2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) in United States
United States: 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) was 3.6 in 2022. ▲ Rising
2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in United States, 2000–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in United States is 3.6, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 44.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in United States peaked at 3.6 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.5, in 2007.
United States ranks 141st of 159 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.1 | — |
| 2001 | 3 | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 2.8 | -6.7% |
| 2003 | 2.7 | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 2.7 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 2.6 | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 2.6 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 2.5 | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 2.5 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2.5 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2.5 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2.5 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2.5 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2.6 | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 2.7 | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 2.8 | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 2.9 | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 3 | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 3.1 | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 3.3 | +6.5% |
| 2020 | 3.4 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 3.5 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 3.6 | +2.9% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 3.6 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.5, 80% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.7 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.79 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,015 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % 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 0.0274 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in United States?
- 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in United States was 3.6 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6 in 2022.
- What is the lowest 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5 in 2007.
- How does United States rank for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5?
- United States ranks 141st out of 159 countries with data for 2022.
- Is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).