Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male was 13.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in Saudi Arabia, 2004–2020
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 Saudi Arabia is 13.6%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 17.1% on the previous year and down 28.0% over five years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in Saudi Arabia peaked at 18.9% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 10.8%, in 2004.
Saudi Arabia ranks 59th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 10.8% | — |
| 2017 | 18.9% | +75.0% |
| 2018 | 13.8% | -27.0% |
| 2019 | 16.4% | +18.8% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | -17.1% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 13.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.5%, 2.5× the median. (8 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 13.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 13.0%, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 16.4% | 13.8% | 18.9% | 3 |
| 2020s | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 483.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 5.31 % 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 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 5.38 % 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in Saudi Arabia was 13.6% 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, male recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.9% in 2017.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age, male recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.8% in 2004.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age, male?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 59th out of 83 countries with data for 2020.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.