Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q5 in India

India: Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q5 was 6.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
6.2%
World rank
35th
of 40 countries
All-time high
16.4%
in 1999
All-time low
6.2%
in 2021
Years of data
5
1993–2021

Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q5 in India, 1993–2021

0510151993200720211993: 10 highest1999: 16.4 highest2006: 11.4 highest2016: 10.2 highest2021: 6.2 highest

Source: Household Surveys (DHS, MICS). Measured in highest.

Analysis

In 2021, prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 in India stood at 6.2%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 45.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 in India peaked at 16.4% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 2021.

That places India 35th out of 40 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q5 in India, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q5 (highest) in India, 1993 to 2021.
Year highest Change
1993 10.0%
1999 16.4% +64.0%
2006 11.4% -30.5%
2016 10.2% -10.5%
2021 6.2% -39.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 13.2% 10.0% 16.4% 2
2000s 11.4% 11.4% 11.4% 1
2010s 10.2% 10.2% 10.2% 1
2020s 6.2% 6.2% 6.2% 1

Countries ranked near India

  1. 32 Lesotho 8.4% compare
  2. 33 Nigeria 8.0% compare
  3. 34 Sierra Leone 6.5% compare
  4. 36 Nepal 5.6% compare
  5. 37 Bangladesh 5.5% compare
  6. 38 Viet Nam 5.2% compare

See the full ranking of 40 places →

More health data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 in India?
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 in India was 6.2% in 2021, according to Household Surveys (DHS, MICS).
What is the highest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 16.4% in 1999.
What is the lowest prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 2021.
How does India rank for prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5?
India ranks 35th out of 40 countries with data for 2021.
Is prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): q5 rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 45.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from Household Surveys (DHS, MICS), published as part of Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q5 (highest). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q5 in India. Statizoid, drawing on Household Surveys (DHS, MICS). Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-diarrhea-percent-of-children-under-5-q5-highest/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of diarrhea (% of children under 5): Q5 (highest)
Unit
highest
Source
Household Surveys (DHS, MICS)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
40 places, 248 data points, 1990–2021
Last refreshed

Prevalence of diarrhea: Percentage of children under age five years who had diarrhea in the two weeks preceding the survey.