Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in China
China: Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female was 7.2% in 2013. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in China, 1990–2013
Source: UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children'. Measured in % of children under 5.
Analysis
In 2013, prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in China stood at 7.2%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 19.1% on the previous year and down 65.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in China peaked at 37.1% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 7.2%, in 2013.
China ranks 73rd of 83 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in China, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 33.3% | — |
| 1992 | 37.1% | +11.4% |
| 1995 | 30.3% | -18.3% |
| 1998 | 19.3% | -36.3% |
| 2000 | 17.1% | -11.4% |
| 2002 | 20.8% | +21.6% |
| 2005 | 10.7% | -48.6% |
| 2010 | 8.9% | -16.8% |
| 2013 | 7.2% | -19.1% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 7.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.5%, 69% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- China's 7.2% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 20.6%, 35% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.0% | 19.3% | 37.1% | 4 |
| 2000s | 16.2% | 10.7% | 20.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 8.1% | 7.2% | 8.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % 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 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in China?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in China was 7.2% in 2013, according to UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children'.
- What is the highest prevalence of stunting, height for age, female recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 37.1% in 1992.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age, female recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.2% in 2013.
- How does China rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age, female?
- China ranks 73rd out of 83 countries with data for 2013.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age, female rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children', published as part of Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of stunting, female, is the percentage of girls under age 5 whose height for age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. For children up to two years old height is measured by recumbent length. For older children height is measured by stature while standing. The data are based on the WHO's 2006 Child Growth Standards.