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

Latest (2022)
31.7
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
22nd
of 159 countries
All-time high
50
in 2000
All-time low
31.7
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in India, 2000–2022

010203040502000201120222000: 502001: 49.52002: 49.12003: 48.72004: 48.32005: 47.92006: 47.42007: 46.82008: 46.12009: 45.22010: 442011: 42.82012: 41.62013: 40.42014: 39.32015: 38.32016: 37.32017: 36.32018: 35.42019: 34.42020: 33.52021: 32.52022: 31.7

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

Annual values for 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) in India, 2000 to 2022.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 19 Afghanistan 33.1 compare
  2. 20 Chad 32.3 compare
  3. 21 Lesotho 31.8 compare
  4. 23 Vanuatu 31.4 compare
  5. 23 Zambia 31.4 compare
  6. 25 Indonesia 31 compare

See the full ranking of 159 places →

More health data for India

All data for India →

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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2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in India. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/2-2-1-prevalence-of-stunting-among-children-under-5-percent/india/

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About this data

Indicator
2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
159 places, 3,657 data points, 2000–2022
Last refreshed