Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) in Iran
Iran: Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) was 4.8% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Iran, 1995–2017
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
In 2017, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Iran stood at 4.8%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 32.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Iran peaked at 24.4% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2017.
That places Iran 88th out of 97 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 24.4% | — |
| 1998 | 20.4% | -16.4% |
| 2004 | 7.1% | -65.2% |
| 2010 | 6.8% | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -29.4% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 4.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.5%, 46% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
- Iran's 4.8% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 12.0%, 40% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.4% | 20.4% | 24.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.1% | 7.1% | 7.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 5.8% | 4.8% | 6.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 85 Azerbaijan 6.6% compare
- 86 Uzbekistan 6.5% compare
- 87 Turkey 6.0% compare
- 88 China 4.8% compare
- 90 Jamaica 4.6% compare
- 91 United States 3.8% compare
More health data for Iran
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.38 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.5627 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 1,070 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.88 % 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 0.0311 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.95 % 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 0.0327 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of stunting, height for age in Iran?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Iran was 4.8% in 2017, 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 1995.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 2017.
- How does Iran rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Iran ranks 88th out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.