Height-for-age <-2 SD in China (People’s Republic of)

China (People’s Republic of): Height-for-age <-2 SD was 4.8 in 2017. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2017)
4.8
World rank
87th
of 96 countries
All-time high
38.3
in 1987
All-time low
4.8
in 2017
Years of data
13
1987–2017

Height-for-age <-2 SD in China (People’s Republic of), 1987–2017

0102030401987200220171987: 38.31990: 32.31992: 381995: 31.21998: 19.82000: 17.82002: 21.82005: 11.72008: 9.82009: 92010: 9.42013: 8.12017: 4.8

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for height-for-age <-2 sd in China (People’s Republic of) is 4.8, measured in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 51.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, height-for-age <-2 sd in China (People’s Republic of) peaked at 38.3 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 4.8, in 2017.

China (People’s Republic of) ranks 87th of 96 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 38.3 38.3 38.3 1
1990s 30.32 19.8 38 4
2000s 14.02 9 21.8 5
2010s 7.43 4.8 9.4 3

Countries ranked near China (People’s Republic of)

  1. 84 Azerbaijan 6.55 compare
  2. 85 Uzbekistan 6.51 compare
  3. 86 Türkiye 5.97 compare
  4. 87 Iran 4.8 compare
  5. 89 Jamaica 4.64 compare
  6. 90 United States 3.8 compare

See the full ranking of 96 places →

More health data for China (People’s Republic of)

All data for China (People’s Republic of) →

Frequently asked questions

What is height-for-age <-2 sd in China (People’s Republic of)?
Height-for-age <-2 sd in China (People’s Republic of) was 4.8 in 2017, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest height-for-age <-2 sd recorded in China (People’s Republic of)?
The highest recorded value was 38.3 in 1987.
What is the lowest height-for-age <-2 sd recorded in China (People’s Republic of)?
The lowest recorded value was 4.8 in 2017.
How does China (People’s Republic of) rank for height-for-age <-2 sd?
China (People’s Republic of) ranks 87th out of 96 countries with data for 2017.
Is height-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in China (People’s Republic of)?
Over the last ten years it is down 51.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China (People’s Republic of) data come from?
The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Height-for-age <-2 SD (stunting). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Height-for-age <-2 SD in China (People’s Republic of). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/height-for-age-2-sd-stunting/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Height-for-age <-2 SD (stunting)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
96 places, 948 data points, 1985–2024
Last refreshed