2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) in India
India: 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) was 31.7 in 2022. ▼ Falling
2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in India, 2000–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
India recorded 31.7 for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 23.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in India peaked at 50 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 31.7, in 2022.
That places India 22nd out of 159 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 50 | — |
| 2001 | 49.5 | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 49.1 | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 48.7 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 48.3 | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 47.9 | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 47.4 | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 46.8 | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 46.1 | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 45.2 | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 44 | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 42.8 | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 41.6 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 40.4 | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 39.3 | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 38.3 | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 37.3 | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 36.3 | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 35.4 | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 34.4 | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 33.5 | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 32.5 | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 31.7 | -2.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 31.7 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 21.2, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 31.7 is above the median for South Asia, which is 24.55, 1.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 47.9 | 45.2 | 50 | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.98 | 34.4 | 44 | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.57 | 31.7 | 33.5 | 3 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 44,822 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.04 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in India?
- 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in India was 31.7 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 50 in 2000.
- What is the lowest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.7 in 2022.
- How does India rank for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5?
- India ranks 22nd out of 159 countries with data for 2022.
- Is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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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