2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) in Nepal
Nepal: 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) was 26.7 in 2022. ▼ Falling
2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Nepal, 2000–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Nepal is 26.7, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.0% on the previous year and down 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Nepal peaked at 55.8 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 26.7, in 2022.
That places Nepal 37th 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 55.8 | — |
| 2001 | 54.6 | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 53.6 | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 52.5 | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 51.4 | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 50.4 | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 49.3 | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 48 | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 46.6 | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 45 | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 43.4 | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 41.8 | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 40.3 | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 38.8 | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 37.4 | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 36 | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 34.6 | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 33.2 | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 31.8 | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 30.4 | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 29.1 | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 27.8 | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 26.7 | -4.0% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 26.7 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 21.2, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 26.7 is above the median for South Asia, which is 24.55, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 50.72 | 45 | 55.8 | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.77 | 30.4 | 43.4 | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.87 | 26.7 | 29.1 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 34 Guinea-Bissau 27.7 compare
- 34 Laos 27.7 compare
- 36 Cameroon 26.9 compare
- 38 Liberia 26.6 compare
- 39 Bangladesh 26.4 compare
- 40 Sierra Leone 26 compare
More health data for Nepal
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8518 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 955 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.17 % 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 0.0451 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.11 % 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 0.0467 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Nepal?
- 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Nepal was 26.7 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 55.8 in 2000.
- What is the lowest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.7 in 2022.
- How does Nepal rank for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5?
- Nepal ranks 37th out of 159 countries with data for 2022.
- Is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nepal 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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