Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Iraq
Iraq: Prevalence of stunting, height for age was 12.6% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Iraq, 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
In 2018, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Iraq stood at 12.6%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 54.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Iraq peaked at 33.7% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 12.6%, in 2018.
Iraq ranks 67th of 97 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 27.6% | — |
| 2000 | 28.1% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 33.7% | +19.9% |
| 2004 | 20.0% | -40.7% |
| 2006 | 27.5% | +37.5% |
| 2011 | 22.1% | -19.6% |
| 2018 | 12.6% | -43.0% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 12.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.5%, 1.2× the median. (27 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 12.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 12.0%, 1.1× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.6% | 27.6% | 27.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 27.3% | 20.0% | 33.7% | 4 |
| 2010s | 17.4% | 12.6% | 22.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More health data for Iraq
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.4 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 898.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 5,830 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.988 % 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 0.0587 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9818 % 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 Iraq?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Iraq was 12.6% 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 33.7% in 2003.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.6% in 2018.
- How does Iraq rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Iraq ranks 67th out of 97 countries with data for 2018.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iraq 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.