Height-for-age <-2 SD in South Africa

South Africa: Height-for-age <-2 SD was 21.33 in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
21.33
Change on year
down 22.2%
World rank
43rd
of 96 countries
All-time high
30.1
in 1999
All-time low
21.19
in 2015
Years of data
6
1994–2017

Height-for-age <-2 SD in South Africa, 1994–2017

01020301994200520171994: 28.71999: 30.12008: 252015: 21.22016: 27.42017: 21.3

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 21.33 for height-for-age <-2 sd in 2017.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 22.2% on the previous year and down 14.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, height-for-age <-2 sd in South Africa peaked at 30.1 in 1999 and was at its lowest, 21.19, in 2015.

That places South Africa 43rd out of 96 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 29.4 28.7 30.1 2
2000s 24.95 24.95 24.95 1
2010s 23.31 21.19 27.42 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 40 Indonesia 22.01 compare
  2. 41 Haiti 21.98 compare
  3. 42 Cambodia 21.91 compare
  4. 44 Malaysia 21.2 compare
  5. 45 Burkina Faso 21.1 compare
  6. 46 Eswatini 20.03 compare

See the full ranking of 96 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is height-for-age <-2 sd in South Africa?
Height-for-age <-2 sd in South Africa was 21.33 in 2017, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest height-for-age <-2 sd recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 30.1 in 1999.
What is the lowest height-for-age <-2 sd recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 21.19 in 2015.
How does South Africa rank for height-for-age <-2 sd?
South Africa ranks 43rd out of 96 countries with data for 2017.
Is height-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa 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 South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/height-for-age-2-sd-stunting/south-africa/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/stat/height-for-age-2-sd-stunting/south-africa/">Height-for-age <-2 SD in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

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