Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Liberia
Liberia: Prevalence of stunting, height for age was 29.8% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Liberia, 2000–2019
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
Liberia recorded 29.8% for prevalence of stunting, height for age in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Liberia peaked at 45.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 29.8%, in 2019.
Liberia ranks 23rd of 97 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Liberia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 45.3% | — |
| 2007 | 39.6% | -12.6% |
| 2008 | 36.1% | -8.8% |
| 2010 | 39.0% | +8.0% |
| 2013 | 32.1% | -17.7% |
| 2016 | 30.1% | -6.2% |
| 2019 | 29.8% | -1.0% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 29.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 33.1%, 90% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 29.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.5%, 1.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 40.3% | 36.1% | 45.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 32.8% | 29.8% | 39.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
- 20 Lao People's Democratic Republic 32.8% compare
- 21 Chad 31.9% compare
- 22 Tanzania, United Republic of 30.0% compare
- 24 Cameroon 28.9% compare
- 25 Guinea-Bissau 28.1% compare
- 26 Syrian Arab Republic 27.9% compare
More health data for Liberia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.57 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7528 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,097 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,457 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.13 % 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 0.068 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.13 % 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 Liberia?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Liberia was 29.8% in 2019, 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 Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 45.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.8% in 2019.
- How does Liberia rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Liberia ranks 23rd out of 97 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Liberia 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.