Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Malaysia
Malaysia: Prevalence of stunting, height for age was 21.2% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Malaysia, 1999–2022
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of stunting, height for age in Malaysia is 21.2%, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 16.9% on the previous year and up 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Malaysia peaked at 25.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 2006.
That places Malaysia 44th out of 97 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 20.7% | — |
| 2006 | 17.5% | -15.5% |
| 2015 | 17.8% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 20.8% | +16.9% |
| 2019 | 25.5% | +22.6% |
| 2022 | 21.2% | -16.9% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 21.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.5%, 2.0× the median. (27 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 21.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21.2%, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.7% | 20.7% | 20.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 17.5% | 17.5% | 17.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 21.4% | 17.8% | 25.5% | 3 |
| 2020s | 21.2% | 21.2% | 21.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 42 Cambodia 21.9% compare
- 43 South Africa 21.3% compare
- 45 Burkina Faso 21.1% compare
- 46 Eswatini 20.0% compare
- 47 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 19.1% compare
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 652 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 18 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7207 % 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 0.0297 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5991 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of stunting, height for age in Malaysia?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Malaysia was 21.2% in 2022, 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 25.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 2006.
- How does Malaysia rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Malaysia ranks 44th out of 97 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.