Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Portugal
Portugal: Prevalence of stunting, height for age was 3.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Portugal, 2000–2024
Source: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Portugal stood at 3.2%.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Portugal peaked at 4.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2021.
That places Portugal 142nd out of 162 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.8% | — |
| 2001 | 4.7% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 4.7% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 4.7% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 4.7% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 4.7% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 4.6% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 4.5% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 4.3% | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 4.2% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 3.8% | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 3.6% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3.5% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 3.1% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 3.2% | +3.2% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 3.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.5%, 91% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 3.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.3%, 74% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.6% | 4.2% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | 3.2% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 139 North Macedonia 3.8% compare
- 140 Malta 3.5% compare
- 140 United Kingdom 3.5% compare
- 142 Paraguay 3.2% compare
- 142 Turks and Caicos Islands 3.2% compare
- 145 Australia 3.1% compare
More health data for Portugal
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.56 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1616 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,112 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 38 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.39 % 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 0.0199 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.15 % 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 in Portugal?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Portugal was 3.2% in 2024, according to Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 4.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2021.
- How does Portugal rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Portugal ranks 142nd out of 162 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Prevalence of stunting, height for age (modeled estimate, % of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.