Prevalence of stunting, height for age (modeled estimate, % of children under 5) by country
Prevalence of stunting is the percentage of children 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...
Countries reporting
162
Highest
55.3%
Burundi
Lowest
1.0%
Poland
Median
11.7%
Years covered
25
2000–2024
Data points
5,161
What the numbers show
Prevalence of stunting, height for age (modeled estimate, % of children under 5) is currently reported for 162 countries. The highest value is 55.3% in Burundi; the lowest is 1.0% in Poland.
The median across all reporting countries is 11.7%, and the mean is 16.2%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 55.
Over the past decade 27 countries rose and 130 fell. The largest increase was in Samoa (up 55.6%), and the largest decrease in Tonga (down 71.9%).
Prevalence of stunting, height for age: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burundi | 55.3% | 2024 | up 1.5% | falling |
| 2 | Niger | 48.3% | 2024 | up 8.1% | falling |
| 3 | Eritrea | 48.0% | 2024 | down 6.8% | rising |
| 4 | Angola | 47.7% | 2024 | up 42.4% | rising |
| 5 | Papua New Guinea | 47.6% | 2024 | down 0.6% | rising |
| 6 | Yemen | 47.4% | 2024 | up 0.2% | falling |
| 7 | Timor-Leste | 45.4% | 2024 | down 10.8% | falling |
| 8 | Guatemala | 44.6% | 2024 | down 4.7% | falling |
| 9 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 44.1% | 2024 | up 3.5% | falling |
| 10 | Afghanistan | 42.0% | 2024 | down 1.2% | falling |
| 11 | Central African Republic | 38.9% | 2024 | down 2.0% | falling |
| 12 | Madagascar | 38.4% | 2024 | down 17.4% | falling |
| 13 | Mozambique | 37.0% | 2024 | down 11.7% | falling |
| 14 | Ethiopia | 35.5% | 2024 | down 12.1% | falling |
| 15 | Sudan | 35.4% | 2024 | down 0.6% | falling |
| 16 | Lesotho | 35.0% | 2024 | down 2.8% | falling |
| 17 | Nigeria | 33.8% | 2024 | down 6.6% | falling |
| 18 | Pakistan | 33.6% | 2024 | down 21.1% | falling |
| 19 | Benin | 33.2% | 2024 | down 2.1% | falling |
| 19 | Malawi | 33.2% | 2024 | down 18.0% | falling |
| 21 | India | 32.9% | 2024 | down 16.9% | falling |
| 22 | Zambia | 32.3% | 2024 | down 16.3% | falling |
| 23 | Chad | 31.5% | 2024 | down 12.7% | falling |
| 24 | Vanuatu | 31.0% | 2024 | up 12.3% | rising |
| 25 | Marshall Islands | 30.0% | 2024 | down 17.4% | falling |
| 25 | South Sudan | 30.0% | 2024 | down 2.0% | falling |
| 27 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 29.9% | 2024 | down 21.9% | falling |
| 27 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 29.9% | 2024 | down 16.5% | falling |
| 29 | Rwanda | 29.8% | 2024 | down 22.4% | falling |
| 29 | Solomon Islands | 29.8% | 2024 | down 4.5% | falling |
| 31 | Guinea-Bissau | 28.3% | 2024 | up 1.8% | falling |
| 32 | Philippines | 27.7% | 2024 | down 11.5% | falling |
| 33 | Cameroon | 27.2% | 2024 | down 12.8% | falling |
| 34 | Liberia | 26.9% | 2024 | down 17.7% | falling |
| 35 | Guinea | 26.6% | 2024 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 36 | Nepal | 26.0% | 2024 | down 29.7% | falling |
| 37 | Sierra Leone | 25.2% | 2024 | down 20.0% | falling |
| 38 | Bangladesh | 25.1% | 2024 | down 29.5% | falling |
| 39 | Myanmar | 24.5% | 2024 | down 18.1% | falling |
| 40 | South Africa | 24.4% | 2024 | up 9.9% | falling |
| 41 | Malaysia | 24.3% | 2024 | up 27.9% | rising |
| 42 | Somalia | 23.9% | 2024 | down 15.5% | falling |
| 43 | Zimbabwe | 23.7% | 2024 | down 16.8% | falling |
| 44 | Syrian Arab Republic | 23.5% | 2024 | down 13.3% | falling |
| 44 | Uganda | 23.5% | 2024 | down 24.4% | falling |
| 46 | Mali | 23.2% | 2024 | down 16.5% | falling |
| 47 | Togo | 23.0% | 2024 | down 10.5% | falling |
| 48 | Indonesia | 22.6% | 2024 | down 29.8% | falling |
| 49 | Cambodia | 22.0% | 2024 | down 28.1% | falling |
| 50 | Haiti | 21.6% | 2024 | down 4.0% | falling |
| 51 | Mauritania | 21.5% | 2024 | down 11.9% | falling |
| 52 | Botswana | 21.0% | 2024 | down 9.5% | falling |
| 53 | Djibouti | 20.9% | 2024 | down 21.1% | falling |
| 54 | Côte d'Ivoire | 20.3% | 2024 | down 25.4% | falling |
| 55 | Burkina Faso | 19.5% | 2024 | down 32.1% | falling |
| 56 | Viet Nam | 19.2% | 2024 | down 21.0% | falling |
| 57 | Eswatini | 18.9% | 2024 | down 27.3% | falling |
| 58 | Bhutan | 17.9% | 2024 | down 31.9% | falling |
| 58 | Honduras | 17.9% | 2024 | down 13.9% | falling |
| 58 | Kenya | 17.9% | 2024 | down 32.5% | falling |
| 61 | Ecuador | 17.7% | 2024 | down 19.9% | falling |
| 62 | Comoros | 17.4% | 2024 | down 38.9% | falling |
| 63 | Senegal | 17.2% | 2024 | down 5.5% | falling |
| 64 | Equatorial Guinea | 17.1% | 2024 | down 25.3% | falling |
| 65 | Korea, Democratic People's Republic of | 16.6% | 2024 | down 29.1% | falling |
| 66 | Namibia | 16.4% | 2024 | down 26.1% | falling |
| 67 | Congo | 16.3% | 2024 | down 24.5% | falling |
| 68 | Naoero | 16.0% | 2024 | down 18.8% | falling |
| 69 | Ghana | 15.6% | 2024 | down 23.9% | falling |
| 70 | Kiribati | 14.7% | 2024 | down 8.1% | falling |
| 71 | Maldives | 14.2% | 2024 | down 9.6% | falling |
| 72 | Gambia | 14.0% | 2024 | down 33.6% | falling |
| 72 | Panama | 14.0% | 2024 | down 26.3% | falling |
| 74 | Gabon | 13.7% | 2024 | down 16.0% | falling |
| 74 | Morocco | 13.7% | 2024 | down 9.3% | falling |
| 76 | Mexico | 13.1% | 2024 | up 3.1% | falling |
| 76 | Tajikistan | 13.1% | 2024 | down 42.8% | falling |
| 78 | Egypt | 12.9% | 2024 | down 37.1% | falling |
| 78 | Oman | 12.9% | 2024 | up 13.2% | falling |
| 80 | Thailand | 12.3% | 2024 | down 7.5% | falling |
| 81 | Belize | 11.7% | 2024 | down 27.3% | falling |
| 81 | Ukraine | 11.7% | 2024 | down 29.9% | falling |
| 81 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 11.7% | 2024 | up 1.7% | falling |
| 84 | Colombia | 11.6% | 2024 | down 6.5% | falling |
| 85 | Saudi Arabia | 11.1% | 2024 | down 10.5% | flat |
| 86 | Kyrgyzstan | 11.0% | 2024 | down 23.6% | falling |
| 87 | Argentina | 10.7% | 2024 | up 42.7% | rising |
| 87 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 10.7% | 2024 | down 39.9% | falling |
| 89 | Costa Rica | 10.6% | 2024 | up 49.3% | rising |
| 89 | Peru | 10.6% | 2024 | down 32.9% | falling |
| 91 | Lebanon | 10.1% | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 91 | Sri Lanka | 10.1% | 2024 | down 30.8% | falling |
| 93 | Sao Tome and Principe | 10.0% | 2024 | down 40.1% | falling |
| 94 | Brunei Darussalam | 9.9% | 2024 | down 37.3% | falling |
| 95 | Iraq | 9.4% | 2024 | down 45.7% | falling |
| 95 | El Salvador | 9.4% | 2024 | down 32.4% | falling |
| 97 | Libya | 9.2% | 2024 | down 60.2% | falling |
| 98 | Brazil | 8.9% | 2024 | up 30.9% | flat |
| 98 | Algeria | 8.9% | 2024 | down 20.5% | falling |
| 98 | Tunisia | 8.9% | 2024 | up 2.3% | falling |
| 101 | Samoa | 8.4% | 2024 | up 55.6% | rising |
| 102 | Montenegro | 8.0% | 2024 | down 4.8% | flat |
| 102 | Palestine, State of | 8.0% | 2024 | down 15.8% | falling |
| 102 | Suriname | 8.0% | 2024 | down 2.4% | falling |
| 105 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 7.9% | 2024 | down 10.2% | falling |
| 106 | Mauritius | 7.8% | 2024 | down 3.7% | falling |
| 106 | Trinidad and Tobago | 7.8% | 2024 | down 9.3% | rising |
| 108 | Jordan | 7.7% | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 109 | Albania | 7.4% | 2024 | down 49.3% | falling |
| 110 | Cuba | 7.3% | 2024 | up 1.4% | falling |
| 111 | Fiji | 7.2% | 2024 | up 5.9% | flat |
| 112 | Guyana | 7.1% | 2024 | down 45.4% | falling |
| 112 | Mongolia | 7.1% | 2024 | down 33.0% | falling |
| 114 | Romania | 7.0% | 2024 | down 15.7% | falling |
| 115 | Jamaica | 6.9% | 2024 | up 9.5% | flat |
| 116 | Azerbaijan | 6.8% | 2024 | down 51.4% | falling |
| 117 | Uzbekistan | 6.7% | 2024 | down 41.7% | falling |
| 118 | Turkmenistan | 6.5% | 2024 | down 41.4% | falling |
| 118 | Uruguay | 6.5% | 2024 | down 22.6% | falling |
| 120 | Armenia | 6.2% | 2024 | down 49.6% | falling |
| 120 | Seychelles | 6.2% | 2024 | down 17.3% | falling |
| 122 | Barbados | 5.8% | 2024 | down 18.3% | falling |
| 123 | Dominican Republic | 5.6% | 2024 | down 27.3% | falling |
| 124 | Bulgaria | 5.5% | 2024 | down 19.1% | falling |
| 124 | Türkiye | 5.5% | 2024 | down 32.1% | falling |
| 126 | Qatar | 5.4% | 2024 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 127 | Cape Verde | 5.3% | 2024 | down 29.3% | falling |
| 127 | Tuvalu | 5.3% | 2024 | down 27.4% | falling |
| 129 | Japan | 5.2% | 2024 | down 18.8% | falling |
| 130 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 4.8% | 2024 | down 12.7% | falling |
| 131 | Georgia | 4.7% | 2024 | down 41.2% | falling |
| 132 | Bahrain | 4.6% | 2024 | down 24.6% | falling |
| 132 | Serbia | 4.6% | 2024 | down 19.3% | falling |
| 134 | China | 4.5% | 2024 | down 31.8% | volatile |
| 134 | Kuwait | 4.5% | 2024 | down 10.0% | rising |
| 136 | Kazakhstan | 4.4% | 2024 | down 54.6% | falling |
| 137 | Republic of Moldova | 4.2% | 2024 | down 32.3% | falling |
| 137 | United States of America | 4.2% | 2024 | up 55.6% | rising |
| 139 | North Macedonia | 3.8% | 2024 | down 25.5% | falling |
| 140 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 3.5% | 2024 | up 25.0% | falling |
| 140 | Malta | 3.5% | 2024 | down 23.9% | falling |
| 142 | Portugal | 3.2% | 2024 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 142 | Paraguay | 3.2% | 2024 | down 58.4% | volatile |
| 142 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 3.2% | 2024 | down 15.8% | falling |
| 145 | Australia | 3.1% | 2024 | down 11.4% | rising |
| 146 | Saint Lucia | 2.8% | 2024 | up 21.7% | falling |
| 146 | Singapore | 2.8% | 2024 | down 9.7% | falling |
| 148 | Belgium | 2.6% | 2024 | down 3.7% | falling |
| 149 | Czechia | 2.4% | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 150 | Germany | 2.2% | 2024 | up 37.5% | rising |
| 150 | Ireland | 2.2% | 2024 | down 8.3% | falling |
| 152 | Greece | 2.0% | 2024 | up 11.1% | falling |
| 153 | Korea | 1.8% | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 154 | Chile | 1.7% | 2024 | down 5.6% | falling |
| 154 | Finland | 1.7% | 2024 | up 6.2% | falling |
| 154 | Latvia | 1.7% | 2024 | down 15.0% | falling |
| 157 | Lithuania | 1.6% | 2024 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 157 | Netherlands | 1.6% | 2024 | up 6.7% | rising |
| 157 | Tonga | 1.6% | 2024 | down 71.9% | volatile |
| 160 | Estonia | 1.3% | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 161 | Belarus | 1.1% | 2024 | down 45.0% | volatile |
| 162 | Poland | 1.0% | 2024 | down 37.5% | falling |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Low income 35.8%
- Africa Eastern and Southern 34.2%
- Least developed countries 33.9%
- Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 32.7%
- Pre-demographic dividend 32.5%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 32.3%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 32.3%
- Sub-Saharan Africa 32.3%
- IDA only 32.2%
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 31.5%
- South Asia 31.5%
- IDA total 31.4%
- IDA blend 29.9%
- Africa Western and Central 29.5%
- Lower middle income 28.9%
- Early-demographic dividend 26.8%
- Low & middle income 25.4%
- IDA & IBRD total 25.3%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 25.2%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 25.1%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 24.1%
- World 23.2%
- Middle income 22.9%
- Arab World 20.5%
- IBRD only 20.2%
- Pacific island small states 19.5%
- Other small states 19.2%
- Small states 17.1%
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 14.0%
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 14.0%
- East Asia & Pacific 13.3%
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 12.7%
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 12.5%
- Latin America & Caribbean 12.4%
- Upper middle income 10.8%
- Caribbean Small States 7.8%
- Late-demographic dividend 7.8%
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 6.9%
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 6.4%
- OECD members 5.9%
About this data
Prevalence of stunting is the percentage of children 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.