Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in South Sudan
South Sudan: Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) was 30.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
30.0%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
25th
of 161 countries
All-time high
39.1%
in 2000
All-time low
29.7%
in 2020
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in South Sudan, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in South Sudan stood at 30.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in South Sudan peaked at 39.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 29.7%, in 2020.
That places South Sudan 25th 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 Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 39.1% | — |
| 2001 | 38.6% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 38.0% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 37.4% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 36.7% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 36.0% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 35.3% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 34.5% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 33.7% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 32.9% | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 32.1% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 31.3% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 31.0% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 30.8% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 30.6% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 30.6% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 30.5% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 30.3% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 30.1% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 29.9% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 29.7% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 29.7% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 29.9% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 30.0% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 30.0% | +0.0% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 30.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 31.5%, 95% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 30.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 24.8%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.2% | 32.9% | 39.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.7% | 29.9% | 32.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.9% | 29.7% | 30.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
- 22 Zambia 32.3% compare
- 23 Chad 31.5% compare
- 24 Vanuatu 31.0% compare
- 25 Marshall Islands 30.0% compare
- 27 Tanzania, United Republic of 29.9% compare
- 27 Lao People's Democratic Republic 29.9% compare
More health data for South Sudan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.47 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.665 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,347 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 12,029 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 123 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 123 deaths (2026)
- Population ages 25-29, female, per capita 0.0349 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per capita 0.0265 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 1.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in South Sudan?
- Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in South Sudan was 30.0% 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 Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 39.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.7% in 2020.
- How does South Sudan rank for stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%)?
- South Sudan ranks 25th out of 161 countries with data for 2024.
- Is stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Sudan 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.
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