Height-for-age <-2 SD (stunting) in United States
United States: Height-for-age <-2 SD (stunting) was 3.8 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
3.8
World rank
90th
of 96 countries
All-time high
3.8
in 2022
All-time low
2.2
in 2012
Years of data
12
1991–2022
Height-for-age <-2 SD in United States, 1991–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2022, height-for-age <-2 sd in United States stood at 3.8. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 72.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, height-for-age <-2 sd in United States peaked at 3.8 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.2, in 2012.
United States ranks 90th of 96 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Height-for-age <-2 SD (stunting) in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.1 | — |
| 2000 | 3.2 | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 3.1 | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 2.9 | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 3.1 | +6.9% |
| 2008 | 2.3 | -25.8% |
| 2010 | 2.8 | +21.7% |
| 2012 | 2.2 | -21.4% |
| 2014 | 2.4 | +9.1% |
| 2016 | 3.5 | +45.8% |
| 2018 | 3.4 | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 3.8 | +11.8% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 3.8 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.8, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.92 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 5 |
| 2010s | 2.86 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 5 |
| 2020s | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,015 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % 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 0.0274 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is height-for-age <-2 sd in United States?
- Height-for-age <-2 sd in United States was 3.8 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest height-for-age <-2 sd recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8 in 2022.
- What is the lowest height-for-age <-2 sd recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2 in 2012.
- How does United States rank for height-for-age <-2 sd?
- United States ranks 90th out of 96 countries with data for 2022.
- Is height-for-age <-2 sd rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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).