Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Prevalence of stunting, height for age was 44.6% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Afghanistan, 1997–2022
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
Afghanistan recorded 44.6% for prevalence of stunting, height for age in 2022.
That represents a change of up 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Afghanistan peaked at 59.3% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 38.2%, in 2018.
That places Afghanistan 7th out of 97 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 53.2% | — |
| 2004 | 59.3% | +11.5% |
| 2013 | 40.4% | -31.9% |
| 2018 | 38.2% | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 44.6% | +16.8% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 44.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 33.1%, 1.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 44.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 12.0%, 3.7× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 53.2% | 53.2% | 53.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 59.3% | 59.3% | 59.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 39.3% | 38.2% | 40.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 44.6% | 44.6% | 44.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 4 Timor-Leste 46.7% compare
- 5 Guatemala 46.0% compare
- 6 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 44.7% compare
- 8 Madagascar 39.8% compare
- 9 Central African Republic 37.9% compare
- 10 Pakistan 37.6% compare
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of stunting, height for age in Afghanistan?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Afghanistan was 44.6% in 2022, 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 recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 59.3% in 2004.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.2% in 2018.
- How does Afghanistan rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Afghanistan ranks 7th out of 97 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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 (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.