Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) in Laos
Laos: Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) was 32.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Laos, 1993–2023
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 2023, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Laos stood at 32.8%. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Laos peaked at 53.6% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 32.8%, in 2023.
That places Laos 20th out of 97 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age (% of children under 5) in Laos, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 53.6% | — |
| 1994 | 52.9% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 47.5% | -10.2% |
| 2006 | 47.7% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 44.2% | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 35.5% | -19.7% |
| 2017 | 33.1% | -6.8% |
| 2023 | 32.8% | -0.9% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 32.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.7%, 1.4× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Laos's 32.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21.2%, 1.5× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 53.2% | 52.9% | 53.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 47.6% | 47.5% | 47.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 37.6% | 33.1% | 44.2% | 3 |
| 2020s | 32.8% | 32.8% | 32.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More health data for Laos
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.5667 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 317 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 15 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5161 % 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 0.0489 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5055 % 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 0.0511 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of stunting, height for age in Laos?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Laos was 32.8% in 2023, 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 53.6% in 1993.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.8% in 2023.
- How does Laos rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Laos ranks 20th out of 97 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Laos 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.