Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Cameroon
Cameroon: Prevalence of stunting, height for age was 28.9% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Cameroon, 1991–2018
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
Cameroon recorded 28.9% for prevalence of stunting, height for age in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 23.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Cameroon peaked at 37.6% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 28.9%, in 2018.
Cameroon ranks 24th of 97 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 31.6% | — |
| 1998 | 36.6% | +15.8% |
| 2004 | 35.6% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 37.6% | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 32.6% | -13.3% |
| 2014 | 31.7% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 28.9% | -8.8% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 28.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.7%, 1.3× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 28.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.5%, 1.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.1% | 31.6% | 36.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 36.6% | 35.6% | 37.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 31.1% | 28.9% | 32.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
- 21 Chad 31.9% compare
- 22 Tanzania, United Republic of 30.0% compare
- 23 Liberia 29.8% compare
- 25 Guinea-Bissau 28.1% compare
- 26 Syrian Arab Republic 27.9% compare
- 27 Myanmar 26.7% compare
- 27 Philippines 26.7% compare
More health data for Cameroon
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7821 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 786.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 12,841 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 17 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.22 % 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 0.0746 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.21 % 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 Cameroon?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Cameroon was 28.9% in 2018, 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 Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 37.6% in 2006.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.9% in 2018.
- How does Cameroon rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Cameroon ranks 24th out of 97 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.