Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) in South Korea
South Korea: Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) was 0.9% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in South Korea, 2003–2020
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
South Korea recorded 0.9% for prevalence of stunting, height for age in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 60.9% on the previous year and down 30.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in South Korea peaked at 2.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2020.
That places South Korea 97th out of 97 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2.5% | — |
| 2011 | 1.3% | -48.0% |
| 2014 | 1.6% | +23.1% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | +43.7% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | -60.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.8%, 24% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21.2%, 4% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.3% | 2.3% | 3 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of stunting, height for age in South Korea?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in South Korea was 0.9% in 2020, 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2.5% in 2003.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2020.
- How does South Korea rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- South Korea ranks 97th out of 97 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South 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.