Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) in Eswatini
Eswatini: Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) was 20.0% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Eswatini, 2000–2021
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
Eswatini recorded 20.0% for prevalence of stunting, height for age in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of down 35.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Eswatini peaked at 40.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 20.0%, in 2021.
That places Eswatini 46th out of 97 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 36.5% | — |
| 2006 | 29.2% | -20.0% |
| 2008 | 40.4% | +38.4% |
| 2010 | 30.9% | -23.5% |
| 2014 | 25.5% | -17.5% |
| 2021 | 20.0% | -21.6% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 20.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.7%, 88% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 20.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.5%, 70% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.4% | 29.2% | 40.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 28.2% | 25.5% | 30.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 20.0% | 20.0% | 20.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 43 South Africa 21.3% compare
- 44 Malaysia 21.2% compare
- 45 Burkina Faso 21.1% compare
- 47 North Korea 19.1% compare
- 48 Honduras 18.7% compare
- 49 Comoros 18.2% compare
- 49 Vietnam 18.2% compare
More health data for Eswatini
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.9 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6228 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 206 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.6874 % 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 0.0553 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5455 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of stunting, height for age in Eswatini?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Eswatini was 20.0% 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 Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 40.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.0% in 2021.
- How does Eswatini rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Eswatini ranks 46th out of 97 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Eswatini 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.