Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Prevalence of stunting, height for age was 26.3% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Sierra Leone, 1989–2021
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
Sierra Leone recorded 26.3% for prevalence of stunting, height for age in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.8% on the previous year and down 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Sierra Leone peaked at 45.0% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 26.3%, in 2021.
That places Sierra Leone 29th out of 97 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 41.4% | — |
| 1990 | 40.9% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 35.5% | -13.2% |
| 2005 | 45.0% | +26.8% |
| 2010 | 32.7% | -27.3% |
| 2014 | 29.1% | -11.0% |
| 2017 | 31.0% | +6.5% |
| 2019 | 29.5% | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 26.3% | -10.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 26.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 33.1%, 79% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 26.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.5%, 92% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 41.4% | 41.4% | 41.4% | 1 |
| 1990s | 40.9% | 40.9% | 40.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 40.2% | 35.5% | 45.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 30.6% | 29.1% | 32.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 26.3% | 26.3% | 26.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,199 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,209 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % 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 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % 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 Sierra Leone?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Sierra Leone was 26.3% in 2021, 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 45.0% in 2005.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.3% in 2021.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Sierra Leone ranks 29th out of 97 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.