Height-for-age <-2 SD (stunting) in Kenya
Kenya: Height-for-age <-2 SD (stunting) was 17.6 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
17.6
World rank
52nd
of 96 countries
All-time high
41.14
in 1994
All-time low
17.6
in 2022
Years of data
12
1987–2022
Height-for-age <-2 SD in Kenya, 1987–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 17.6 for height-for-age <-2 sd in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is down 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, height-for-age <-2 sd in Kenya peaked at 41.14 in 1994 and was at its lowest, 17.6, in 2022.
That places Kenya 52nd out of 96 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Height-for-age <-2 SD (stunting) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 37 | — |
| 1993 | 40.15 | +8.5% |
| 1994 | 41.14 | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 36.75 | -10.7% |
| 2000 | 40.79 | +11.0% |
| 2003 | 35.84 | -12.1% |
| 2005 | 40.35 | +12.6% |
| 2008 | 35.49 | -12.0% |
| 2011 | 26.3 | -25.9% |
| 2014 | 26.19 | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 28.63 | +9.3% |
| 2022 | 17.6 | -38.5% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 17.6 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 23.42, 75% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 17.6 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.53, 62% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37 | 37 | 37 | 1 |
| 1990s | 39.35 | 36.75 | 41.14 | 3 |
| 2000s | 38.12 | 35.49 | 40.79 | 4 |
| 2010s | 27.04 | 26.19 | 28.63 | 3 |
| 2020s | 17.6 | 17.6 | 17.6 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 16,059 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.063 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is height-for-age <-2 sd in Kenya?
- Height-for-age <-2 sd in Kenya was 17.6 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest height-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 41.14 in 1994.
- What is the lowest height-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.6 in 2022.
- How does Kenya rank for height-for-age <-2 sd?
- Kenya ranks 52nd out of 96 countries with data for 2022.
- Is height-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).