Height-for-age <-2 SD (stunting) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Height-for-age <-2 SD (stunting) was 10.5 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
10.5
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
72nd
of 96 countries
All-time high
31.2
in 1987
All-time low
7.4
in 2021
Years of data
14
1987–2024
Height-for-age <-2 SD in Sri Lanka, 1987–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 10.5 for height-for-age <-2 sd in 2024.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and down 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, height-for-age <-2 sd in Sri Lanka peaked at 31.2 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 7.4, in 2021.
That places Sri Lanka 72nd out of 96 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Height-for-age <-2 SD (stunting) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 31.2 | — |
| 1993 | 28.7 | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 26.1 | -9.0% |
| 2000 | 18.31 | -29.8% |
| 2007 | 18.06 | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 19.2 | +6.3% |
| 2012 | 14.62 | -23.9% |
| 2016 | 17.28 | +18.2% |
| 2019 | 8.4 | -51.4% |
| 2020 | 8.2 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 7.4 | -9.8% |
| 2022 | 13.68 | +84.9% |
| 2023 | 10.3 | -24.7% |
| 2024 | 10.5 | +1.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 10.5 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.5, 1.0× the median. (27 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 10.5 is below the median for South Asia, which is 20.73, 51% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 31.2 | 31.2 | 31.2 | 1 |
| 1990s | 27.4 | 26.1 | 28.7 | 2 |
| 2000s | 18.52 | 18.06 | 19.2 | 3 |
| 2010s | 13.43 | 8.4 | 17.28 | 3 |
| 2020s | 10.02 | 7.4 | 13.68 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More health data for Sri Lanka
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7332 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 304 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.13 % 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 0.0339 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.12 % 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 0.0353 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is height-for-age <-2 sd in Sri Lanka?
- Height-for-age <-2 sd in Sri Lanka was 10.5 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest height-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 31.2 in 1987.
- What is the lowest height-for-age <-2 sd recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.4 in 2021.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for height-for-age <-2 sd?
- Sri Lanka ranks 72nd out of 96 countries with data for 2024.
- Is height-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 — 14 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).