Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) was 24.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
24.4%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
40th
of 161 countries
All-time high
26.6%
in 2000
All-time low
22.1%
in 2018
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 24.4% for stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in 2024.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in South Africa peaked at 26.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 22.1%, in 2018.
That places South Africa 40th out of 161 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 26.6% | — |
| 2001 | 26.4% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 26.3% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 26.3% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 26.3% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 26.2% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 25.8% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 25.2% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 24.5% | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 23.8% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 23.1% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 22.5% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 22.3% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 22.2% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 22.2% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 22.2% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 22.2% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 22.2% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 22.1% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 22.2% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 22.5% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 22.9% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 23.5% | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 23.9% | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 24.4% | +2.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 24.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.0%, 3.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 24.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 24.8%, 98% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 25.7% | 23.8% | 26.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.3% | 22.1% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.4% | 22.5% | 24.4% | 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 prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in South Africa?
- Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in South Africa was 24.4% 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.1% in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%)?
- South Africa ranks 40th out of 161 countries with data for 2024.
- Is stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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).