2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 was 9.5 in 2022. ▲ Rising
2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Costa Rica, 2000–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Costa Rica is 9.5, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 48.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Costa Rica peaked at 9.5 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5.9, in 2005.
Costa Rica ranks 97th of 159 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.8 | — |
| 2001 | 6.6 | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 6.4 | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 6.2 | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 6 | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 5.9 | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 5.9 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 5.9 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 6 | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 6.1 | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 6.2 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 6.4 | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 6.7 | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 7 | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 7.3 | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 7.7 | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 8 | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 8.3 | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 8.6 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 8.9 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 9.2 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 9.5 | +3.3% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 9.5 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.5, 2.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 9.5 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 9.5, 1.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.17 | 5.9 | 6.8 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.23 | 6.1 | 8.6 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.2 | 8.9 | 9.5 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 94 El Salvador 10 compare
- 94 Sao Tome and Principe 10 compare
- 96 Iraq 9.9 compare
- 97 Argentina 9.5 compare
- 99 Cape Verde 9.4 compare
- 100 Trinidad and Tobago 8.8 compare
More health data for Costa Rica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.78 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4617 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,632 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 35 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -3.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0248 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -3.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Costa Rica?
- 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Costa Rica was 9.5 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 9.5 in 2022.
- What is the lowest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9 in 2005.
- How does Costa Rica rank for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5?
- Costa Rica ranks 97th out of 159 countries with data for 2022.
- Is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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