Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in China
China: Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) was 4.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.5%
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
133rd
of 161 countries
All-time high
20.0%
in 2000
All-time low
4.5%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in China, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
China recorded 4.5% for stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 31.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in China peaked at 20.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 2024.
China ranks 133rd of 161 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 20.0% | — |
| 2001 | 18.6% | -7.0% |
| 2002 | 17.3% | -7.0% |
| 2003 | 15.9% | -8.1% |
| 2004 | 14.6% | -8.2% |
| 2005 | 13.4% | -8.2% |
| 2006 | 12.3% | -8.2% |
| 2007 | 11.3% | -8.1% |
| 2008 | 10.4% | -8.0% |
| 2009 | 9.6% | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 8.8% | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 7.5% | -6.2% |
| 2013 | 7.0% | -6.7% |
| 2014 | 6.6% | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 6.3% | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 6.1% | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 5.5% | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 4.8% | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 4.6% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 4.5% | -2.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 4.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.0%, 56% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 4.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 16.0%, 28% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.3% | 9.6% | 20.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.7% | 5.2% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 4.5% | 5.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 130 Georgia 4.7% compare
- 131 Bahrain 4.6% compare
- 131 Serbia 4.6% compare
- 133 Kuwait 4.5% compare
- 135 Kazakhstan 4.4% compare
- 136 Republic of Moldova 4.2% compare
- 136 United States of America 4.2% compare
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % 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 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % 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 prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in China?
- Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in China was 4.5% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 20.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 2024.
- How does China rank for stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%)?
- China ranks 133rd out of 161 countries with data for 2024.
- Is stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (% height-for-age <-2 SD), 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).