2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 was 15.9 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
15.9
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
70th
of 159 countries
All-time high
19.5
in 2000
All-time low
15.9
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

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

051015202000201120222000: 19.52001: 19.22002: 18.92003: 18.62004: 18.42005: 18.22006: 182007: 17.82008: 17.62009: 17.42010: 17.22011: 172012: 16.72013: 16.62014: 16.52015: 16.42016: 16.32017: 16.32018: 16.32019: 16.32020: 16.22021: 16.12022: 15.9

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Sri Lanka is 15.9, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 4.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Sri Lanka peaked at 19.5 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 15.9, in 2022.

That places Sri Lanka 70th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year

Annual values for 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) in Sri Lanka, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 19.5
2001 19.2 -1.5%
2002 18.9 -1.6%
2003 18.6 -1.6%
2004 18.4 -1.1%
2005 18.2 -1.1%
2006 18 -1.1%
2007 17.8 -1.1%
2008 17.6 -1.1%
2009 17.4 -1.1%
2010 17.2 -1.1%
2011 17 -1.2%
2012 16.7 -1.8%
2013 16.6 -0.6%
2014 16.5 -0.6%
2015 16.4 -0.6%
2016 16.3 -0.6%
2017 16.3 +0.0%
2018 16.3 +0.0%
2019 16.3 +0.0%
2020 16.2 -0.6%
2021 16.1 -0.6%
2022 15.9 -1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 18.36 17.4 19.5 10
2010s 16.56 16.3 17.2 10
2020s 16.07 15.9 16.2 3

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 68 Congo 16.5 compare
  2. 69 Equatorial Guinea 16.1 compare
  3. 71 Nicaragua 14.9 compare
  4. 72 Naoero 14.8 compare
  5. 73 Kiribati 14.2 compare

See the full ranking of 159 places →

More health data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Sri Lanka?
2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Sri Lanka was 15.9 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 19.5 in 2000.
What is the lowest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 15.9 in 2022.
How does Sri Lanka rank for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5?
Sri Lanka ranks 70th out of 159 countries with data for 2022.
Is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/2-2-1-prevalence-of-stunting-among-children-under-5-percent/sri-lanka/

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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