Prevalence of stunting, height for age in El Salvador
El Salvador: Prevalence of stunting, height for age was 10.0% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in El Salvador, 1988–2021
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
El Salvador recorded 10.0% for prevalence of stunting, height for age in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 51.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in El Salvador peaked at 36.7% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 10.0%, in 2021.
That places El Salvador 74th out of 97 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 36.7% | — |
| 1993 | 31.6% | -13.9% |
| 1998 | 32.3% | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 24.6% | -23.8% |
| 2008 | 20.8% | -15.4% |
| 2014 | 13.6% | -34.6% |
| 2021 | 10.0% | -26.5% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 10.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.5%, 95% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 10.0% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.6%, 79% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 36.7% | 36.7% | 36.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 31.9% | 31.6% | 32.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 22.7% | 20.8% | 24.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 1 |
| 2020s | 10.0% | 10.0% | 10.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More health data for El Salvador
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.89 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4574 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,537 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 104 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.9135 % 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 0.0374 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.8849 % 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 El Salvador?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in El Salvador was 10.0% 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 recorded in El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 36.7% in 1988.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.0% in 2021.
- How does El Salvador rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- El Salvador ranks 74th out of 97 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.