Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Lesotho
Lesotho: Prevalence of stunting, height for age was 35.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Lesotho, 1992–2024
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
Lesotho recorded 35.6% for prevalence of stunting, height for age in 2024.
That represents a change of up 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Lesotho peaked at 44.7% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 33.4%, in 2014.
Lesotho ranks 13th of 97 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 39.2% | — |
| 1993 | 37.5% | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 44.7% | +19.2% |
| 2009 | 39.3% | -12.1% |
| 2014 | 33.4% | -15.0% |
| 2018 | 34.6% | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 35.6% | +2.9% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 35.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.7%, 1.6× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 35.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.5%, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.4% | 37.5% | 39.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 42.0% | 39.3% | 44.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 34.0% | 33.4% | 34.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 35.6% | 35.6% | 35.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More health data for Lesotho
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4669 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,227 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 382 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2020)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.8108 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0548 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of stunting, height for age in Lesotho?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Lesotho was 35.6% in 2024, 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 44.7% in 2004.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.4% in 2014.
- How does Lesotho rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Lesotho ranks 13th out of 97 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.