Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in India
India: Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male was 36.2% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male 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
The most recent figure for prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in India is 36.2%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in India peaked at 58.4% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 36.2%, in 2020.
India ranks 17th of 83 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in India, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 58.4% | — |
| 1999 | 51.1% | -12.5% |
| 2006 | 47.8% | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 39.5% | -17.4% |
| 2015 | 38.3% | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 36.4% | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 36.2% | -0.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 36.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 24.6%, 1.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- India's 36.2% is above the median for South Asia, which is 23.8%, 1.5× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.8% | 51.1% | 58.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 47.8% | 47.8% | 47.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 38.1% | 36.4% | 39.5% | 3 |
| 2020s | 36.2% | 36.2% | 36.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
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, male in India?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in India was 36.2% 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, male recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 58.4% in 1992.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age, male recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.2% in 2020.
- How does India rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age, male?
- India ranks 17th out of 83 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age, male rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. 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, male (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of stunting, male, is the percentage of boys 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.