Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Pakistan
Pakistan: Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female was 37.1% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Pakistan, 1991–2018
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
Pakistan recorded 37.1% for prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 13.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Pakistan peaked at 51.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 37.1%, in 2018.
That places Pakistan 7th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 51.6% | — |
| 1992 | 42.1% | -18.4% |
| 2001 | 40.6% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 42.9% | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 41.8% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 37.1% | -11.2% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 37.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 21.9%, 1.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 37.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 10.0%, 3.7× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.9% | 42.1% | 51.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 40.6% | 40.6% | 40.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 40.6% | 37.1% | 42.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 4 Guatemala 44.9% compare
- 5 East Timor 44.7% compare
- 6 Democratic Republic of Congo 42.0% compare
- 8 Madagascar 36.1% compare
- 9 Central African Republic 34.9% compare
- 10 India 34.6% compare
More health data for Pakistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.14 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8219 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 944.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 55,286 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 335 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5028 % 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 0.0616 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.4109 % 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 Pakistan?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Pakistan was 37.1% in 2018, 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 51.6% in 1991.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age, female recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.1% in 2018.
- How does Pakistan rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age, female?
- Pakistan ranks 7th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age, female rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.