Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in India
India: Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female was 34.6% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in India, 1992–2020
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
India recorded 34.6% for prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in India peaked at 55.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 34.6%, in 2020.
India ranks 10th of 83 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in India, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 55.8% | — |
| 1999 | 50.8% | -9.0% |
| 2006 | 47.8% | -5.9% |
| 2014 | 37.9% | -20.7% |
| 2015 | 37.5% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 35.8% | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 34.6% | -3.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 34.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 21.9%, 1.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- India's 34.6% is above the median for South Asia, which is 23.3%, 1.5× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 53.3% | 50.8% | 55.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 47.8% | 47.8% | 47.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 37.1% | 35.8% | 37.9% | 3 |
| 2020s | 34.6% | 34.6% | 34.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
- 7 Pakistan 37.1% compare
- 8 Madagascar 36.1% compare
- 9 Central African Republic 34.9% compare
- 11 Ethiopia 33.6% compare
- 12 Mozambique 32.8% compare
- 13 Lesotho 32.5% compare
- 13 Nigeria 32.5% compare
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % 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 India?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in India was 34.6% in 2020, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 55.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age, female recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.6% in 2020.
- How does India rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age, female?
- India ranks 10th out of 83 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age, female rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.