Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female was 33.6% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Ethiopia, 2000–2019
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Ethiopia is 33.6%, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.5% on the previous year and down 21.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Ethiopia peaked at 55.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 33.6%, in 2019.
Ethiopia ranks 11th of 83 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 55.8% | — |
| 2005 | 48.7% | -12.7% |
| 2011 | 42.6% | -12.5% |
| 2014 | 39.7% | -6.8% |
| 2016 | 35.2% | -11.3% |
| 2019 | 33.6% | -4.5% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 33.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 30.5%, 1.1× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 33.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.6%, 1.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 52.2% | 48.7% | 55.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 37.8% | 33.6% | 42.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 8 Madagascar 36.1% compare
- 9 Central African Republic 34.9% compare
- 10 India 34.6% compare
- 12 Mozambique 32.8% compare
- 13 Lesotho 32.5% compare
- 13 Nigeria 32.5% compare
More health data for Ethiopia
- 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 0.9494 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 744.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 19,997 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 148 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0709 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Ethiopia?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Ethiopia was 33.6% in 2019, 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 55.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age, female recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.6% in 2019.
- How does Ethiopia rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age, female?
- Ethiopia ranks 11th out of 83 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age, female rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.