Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Benin
Benin: Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female was 37.0% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Benin, 1996–2021
Source: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME) - UNICEF, WHO, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of children under 5.
Analysis
Benin recorded 37.0% for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% on the previous year and down 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Benin peaked at 40.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 35.1%, in 2018.
That places Benin 15th out of 83 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Benin, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 37.3% | — |
| 2001 | 38.0% | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 40.8% | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 35.8% | -12.3% |
| 2018 | 35.1% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 37.0% | +5.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.3% | 37.3% | 37.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 39.4% | 38.0% | 40.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 35.5% | 35.1% | 35.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 37.0% | 37.0% | 37.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More gender data for Benin
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 6,548 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.19 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 229,200 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 237,041 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 223,456 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 230,273 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 219,192 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 225,605 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 214,836 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 220,927 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Benin?
- Malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Benin was 37.0% in 2021, according to Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME) - UNICEF, WHO, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 40.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.1% in 2018.
- How does Benin rank for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female?
- Benin ranks 15th out of 83 countries with data for 2021.
- Is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME) - UNICEF, WHO, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children younger than 5 years, male versus female, that fall below two standard deviations from the median height-for-age of the WHO Child Growth Standards.