Stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in South Africa
South Africa: Stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) was 1,440 in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
1,440
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
20th
of 161 countries
All-time high
1,440
in 2024
All-time low
1,231
in 2019
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in South Africa is 1,440, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in South Africa peaked at 1,440 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1,231, in 2019.
South Africa ranks 20th of 161 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,364 | — |
| 2001 | 1,318 | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 1,288 | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 1,273 | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 1,270 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 1,281 | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 1,295 | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 1,303 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 1,310 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 1,308 | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 1,288 | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 1,269 | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 1,261 | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 1,254 | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 1,254 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1,268 | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 1,273 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 1,256 | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 1,234 | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 1,231 | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 1,254 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 1,308 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 1,370 | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 1,408 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 1,440 | +2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1,440 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 46.4, 31.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1,440 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 577.8, 2.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,301 | 1,270 | 1,364 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,259 | 1,231 | 1,288 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,356 | 1,254 | 1,440 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % 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 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % 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 stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in South Africa?
- Stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) in South Africa was 1,440 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,440 in 2024.
- What is the lowest stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,231 in 2019.
- How does South Africa rank for stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions)?
- South Africa ranks 20th out of 161 countries with data for 2024.
- Is stunting numbers among children under 5 years of age (millions) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).