Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female was 16.6% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Sri Lanka, 1987–2016
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 Sri Lanka is 16.6%, measured in 2016.
The figure is down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Sri Lanka peaked at 30.5% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 14.5%, in 2012.
Sri Lanka ranks 46th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 30.5% | — |
| 1993 | 29.4% | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 19.4% | -34.0% |
| 2007 | 17.3% | -10.8% |
| 2009 | 18.7% | +8.1% |
| 2012 | 14.5% | -22.5% |
| 2016 | 16.6% | +14.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 16.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.5%, 1.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 16.6% is below the median for South Asia, which is 23.3%, 71% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 30.5% | 30.5% | 30.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 29.4% | 29.4% | 29.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 18.5% | 17.3% | 19.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 15.6% | 14.5% | 16.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More health data for Sri Lanka
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7332 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 304 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.13 % 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 0.0339 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.12 % 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 Sri Lanka?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age, female in Sri Lanka was 16.6% in 2016, 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 30.5% in 1987.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age, female recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.5% in 2012.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age, female?
- Sri Lanka ranks 46th out of 83 countries with data for 2016.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age, female rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.