2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) was 26 in 2022. ▼ Falling
2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Sierra Leone, 2000–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Sierra Leone is 26, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Sierra Leone peaked at 39 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 26, in 2022.
Sierra Leone ranks 40th of 159 countries on this measure, 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 38.1 | — |
| 2001 | 38.5 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 38.7 | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 38.9 | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 39 | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 39 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 39 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 38.8 | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 38.3 | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 37.7 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 36.9 | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 35.9 | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 34.9 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 33.8 | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 32.9 | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 32.3 | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 31.6 | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 30.5 | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 28.8 | -5.6% |
| 2019 | 28.1 | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 27.4 | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 26.6 | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 26 | -2.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 26 is below the median for low income countries, which is 32.3, 80% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 26 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 24.9, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.6 | 37.7 | 39 | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.57 | 28.1 | 36.9 | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.67 | 26 | 27.4 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,209 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0676 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Sierra Leone?
- 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Sierra Leone was 26 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 39 in 2004.
- What is the lowest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 26 in 2022.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5?
- Sierra Leone ranks 40th out of 159 countries with data for 2022.
- Is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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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