Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male was 29.1% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in Sierra Leone, 2000–2021
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
In 2021, prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in Sierra Leone stood at 29.1%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 9.3% on the previous year and down 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in Sierra Leone peaked at 47.3% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 29.1%, in 2021.
Sierra Leone ranks 25th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 39.0% | — |
| 2005 | 47.3% | +21.3% |
| 2010 | 36.2% | -23.5% |
| 2014 | 32.7% | -9.7% |
| 2017 | 33.7% | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 32.1% | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 29.1% | -9.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 29.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 38.1%, 76% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 29.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 31.6%, 92% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.1% | 39.0% | 47.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 33.7% | 32.1% | 36.2% | 4 |
| 2020s | 29.1% | 29.1% | 29.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 22 Liberia 31.8% compare
- 23 Guinea-Bissau 31.4% compare
- 24 Cameroon 31.2% compare
- 25 Guinea 29.1% compare
- 27 Mauritania 27.6% compare
- 28 Philippines 27.2% compare
- 28 Uganda 27.2% compare
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,199 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,209 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in Sierra Leone?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age, male in Sierra Leone was 29.1% in 2021, 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 47.3% in 2005.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age, male recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.1% in 2021.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age, male?
- Sierra Leone ranks 25th out of 83 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age, male rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.