Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in China
China: Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female was 8.8% in 2013. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in China, 1990–2013
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
In 2013, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in China stood at 8.8%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of down 11.1% on the previous year and down 61.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in China peaked at 38.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 2013.
China ranks 70th of 83 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in China, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 31.4% | — |
| 1992 | 38.8% | +23.6% |
| 1995 | 32.0% | -17.5% |
| 1998 | 20.2% | -36.9% |
| 2000 | 18.5% | -8.4% |
| 2002 | 22.7% | +22.7% |
| 2005 | 12.6% | -44.5% |
| 2010 | 9.9% | -21.4% |
| 2013 | 8.8% | -11.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.6% | 20.2% | 38.8% | 4 |
| 2000s | 17.9% | 12.6% | 22.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 9.4% | 8.8% | 9.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
- 67 Armenia 10.9% compare
- 67 El Salvador 10.9% compare
- 67 Mongolia 10.9% compare
- 71 Palestine, State of 8.6% compare
- 72 Kazakhstan 7.7% compare
- 73 Jordan 7.6% compare
More gender data for China
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 169,741 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -5.36 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 4.15 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 4.56 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 4.18 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 4.62 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 4.32 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 4.78 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 4.69 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 5.18 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in China?
- Malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in China was 8.8% in 2013, 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 38.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.8% in 2013.
- How does China rank for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female?
- China ranks 70th out of 83 countries with data for 2013.
- Is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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.