2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in United States of America

United States of America: 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 was 3.6 in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
3.6
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
141st
of 159 countries
All-time high
3.6
in 2022
All-time low
2.5
in 2007
Years of data
23
2000–2022

2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in United States of America, 2000–2022

012342000201120222000: 3.12001: 32002: 2.82003: 2.72004: 2.72005: 2.62006: 2.62007: 2.52008: 2.52009: 2.52010: 2.52011: 2.52012: 2.52013: 2.62014: 2.72015: 2.82016: 2.92017: 32018: 3.12019: 3.32020: 3.42021: 3.52022: 3.6

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in United States of America 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 of America peaked at 3.6 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.5, in 2007.

United States of America 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 of America, year by year

Annual values for 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 (%) in United States of America, 2000 to 2022.
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 of America compared with similar countries

  • United States of America'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

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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 of America

  1. 138 Qatar 4.4 compare
  2. 139 Republic of Moldova 3.9 compare
  3. 140 North Macedonia 3.7 compare
  4. 141 Belarus 3.6 compare
  5. 143 Australia 3.4 compare
  6. 143 Paraguay 3.4 compare

See the full ranking of 159 places →

More health data for United States of America

All data for United States of America →

Frequently asked questions

What is 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in United States of America?
2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in United States of America 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 of America?
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 of America?
The lowest recorded value was 2.5 in 2007.
How does United States of America rank for 2.2.1 prevalence of stunting among children under 5?
United States of America 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 of America?
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 of America 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 United States of America. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/2-2-1-prevalence-of-stunting-among-children-under-5-percent/united-states/

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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