Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste: Prevalence of stunting, height for age was 46.7% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Timor-Leste, 2002–2020
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
Timor-Leste recorded 46.7% for prevalence of stunting, height for age in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of stunting, height for age in Timor-Leste peaked at 57.5% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 46.7%, in 2020.
Timor-Leste ranks 4th of 97 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Timor-Leste, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 55.7% | — |
| 2003 | 54.8% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 57.2% | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 57.5% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 51.7% | -10.1% |
| 2014 | 49.2% | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 46.7% | -5.1% |
Timor-Leste compared with similar countries
- Timor-Leste's 46.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.7%, 2.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Timor-Leste's 46.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21.2%, 2.2× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 56.3% | 54.8% | 57.5% | 4 |
| 2010s | 50.5% | 49.2% | 51.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 46.7% | 46.7% | 46.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Timor-Leste
More health data for Timor-Leste
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.22 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.894 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,287 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 162 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.67 % 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 0.051 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.04 % 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 Timor-Leste?
- Prevalence of stunting, height for age in Timor-Leste was 46.7% in 2020, 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 Timor-Leste?
- The highest recorded value was 57.5% in 2009.
- What is the lowest prevalence of stunting, height for age recorded in Timor-Leste?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.7% in 2020.
- How does Timor-Leste rank for prevalence of stunting, height for age?
- Timor-Leste ranks 4th out of 97 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of stunting, height for age rising or falling in Timor-Leste?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Timor-Leste 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.