Stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in Africa (WHO region)
Africa (WHO region): Stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) was 59,122 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
59,122
Change on year
up 2.0%
Rank
5th
of 13 groups
All-time high
59,122
in 2024
All-time low
43,047
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in Africa (WHO region), 1990–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
Africa (WHO region) recorded 59,122 for stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in Africa (WHO region) peaked at 59,122 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 43,047, in 1990.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in Africa (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 43,047 | — |
| 1991 | 44,144 | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 45,078 | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 45,878 | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 46,517 | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 47,060 | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 47,614 | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 48,069 | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 48,464 | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 48,977 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 49,674 | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 50,493 | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 51,350 | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 52,165 | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 52,908 | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 53,630 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 54,278 | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 54,710 | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 54,978 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 55,126 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 55,141 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 55,120 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 55,161 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 55,278 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 55,424 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 55,550 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 55,576 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 55,462 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 55,296 | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 55,175 | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 55,292 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 55,837 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 56,903 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 57,958 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 59,122 | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46,485 | 43,047 | 48,977 | 10 |
| 2000s | 52,931 | 49,674 | 55,126 | 10 |
| 2010s | 55,318 | 55,120 | 55,576 | 10 |
| 2020s | 57,022 | 55,292 | 59,122 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa (WHO region)
- 2 Nigeria 11,438 compare
- 3 Pakistan 10,739 compare
- 4 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 8,722 compare
- 5 Ethiopia 6,890 compare
- 6 Indonesia 5,031 compare
- 7 Bangladesh 4,189 compare
- 8 Tanzania, United Republic of 3,299 compare
More health data for Africa (WHO region)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1,654 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 179,400 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,261 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,578 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 12,202 (2025)
- Number of under-five deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of neonatal deaths, annual growth rate -0.0365 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8695 % change on previous year (2024)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -8.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 160.28 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in Africa (WHO region)?
- Stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in Africa (WHO region) was 59,122 in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) recorded in Africa (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 59,122 in 2024.
- What is the lowest stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) recorded in Africa (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 43,047 in 1990.
- How does Africa (WHO region) rank for stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions)?
- Africa (WHO region) ranks 5th out of 13 groups with data for 2024.
- Is stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) rising or falling in Africa (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa (WHO region) data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions), model-based estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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