Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) in North Korea
North Korea: Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) was 19.1% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in North Korea, 1998–2017
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
North Korea recorded 19.1% for prevalence of stunting, height for age in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 41.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in North Korea peaked at 63.9% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 19.1%, in 2017.
North Korea ranks 47th of 97 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 63.9% | — |
| 2000 | 51.0% | -20.2% |
| 2002 | 44.7% | -12.4% |
| 2004 | 43.1% | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 32.4% | -24.8% |
| 2012 | 27.9% | -13.9% |
| 2017 | 19.1% | -31.5% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 19.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 33.1%, 58% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 19.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21.2%, 90% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.9% | 63.9% | 63.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 42.8% | 32.4% | 51.0% | 4 |
| 2010s | 23.5% | 19.1% | 27.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More health data for North Korea
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 767 (2100)
- Population ages 15-64, female, annual growth rate -0.1835 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, total, annual growth rate 0.1729 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female, per capita 0.3398 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, annual growth rate -0.123 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male, per capita 0.3438 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, annual growth rate -0.1528 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, total, per capita 0.6836 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of stunting, height for age in North Korea?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in North Korea was 19.1% 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 63.9% in 1998.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.1% in 2017.
- How does North Korea rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- North Korea ranks 47th out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Korea 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.