2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) in Kenya
Kenya: 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) was 18.4 in 2022. ▼ Falling
2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Kenya, 2000–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 18.4 for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 35.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Kenya peaked at 38.5 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 18.4, in 2022.
That places Kenya 62nd out of 159 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 38.5 | — |
| 2001 | 38.5 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 38.4 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 38.1 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 37.7 | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 37.3 | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 36.7 | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 35.8 | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 34.6 | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 33.3 | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 31.7 | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 30.1 | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 28.6 | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 27.2 | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 26 | -4.4% |
| 2015 | 24.9 | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 23.9 | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 23 | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 22 | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 21.1 | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 20.1 | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 19.2 | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 18.4 | -4.2% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 18.4 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 21.2, 87% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 18.4 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 24.9, 74% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.89 | 33.3 | 38.5 | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.85 | 21.1 | 31.7 | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.23 | 18.4 | 20.1 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 16,059 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.063 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Kenya?
- 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Kenya was 18.4 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 38.5 in 2000.
- What is the lowest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.4 in 2022.
- How does Kenya rank for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5?
- Kenya ranks 62nd out of 159 countries with data for 2022.
- Is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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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