Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Thailand
Thailand: Prevalence of stunting, height for age was 12.4% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Thailand, 1987–2022
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
Thailand recorded 12.4% for prevalence of stunting, height for age in 2022.
That represents a change of down 7.5% on the previous year and down 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Thailand peaked at 25.5% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 10.5%, in 2016.
That places Thailand 69th out of 97 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Thailand, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 25.5% | — |
| 1993 | 21.1% | -17.3% |
| 1995 | 18.1% | -14.2% |
| 2006 | 15.7% | -13.3% |
| 2012 | 16.4% | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 10.5% | -36.0% |
| 2019 | 13.4% | +27.6% |
| 2022 | 12.4% | -7.5% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 12.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.5%, 1.2× the median. (27 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 12.4% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21.2%, 58% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 25.5% | 25.5% | 25.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 19.6% | 18.1% | 21.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 15.7% | 15.7% | 15.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 13.4% | 10.5% | 16.4% | 3 |
| 2020s | 12.4% | 12.4% | 12.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More health data for Thailand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.6 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0316 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,582 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 677 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.01 % 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 0.0201 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.97 % 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 Thailand?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Thailand was 12.4% 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 25.5% in 1987.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5% in 2016.
- How does Thailand rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Thailand ranks 69th out of 97 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Thailand 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.