Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Colombia
Colombia: Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female was 14.4% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Colombia, 1986–2016
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
Colombia recorded 14.4% for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in 2016.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Colombia peaked at 28.8% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 13.7%, in 2010.
That places Colombia 58th out of 83 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Colombia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 28.8% | — |
| 1995 | 22.0% | -23.6% |
| 2000 | 19.1% | -13.2% |
| 2005 | 17.5% | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 13.7% | -21.7% |
| 2016 | 14.4% | +5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 28.8% | 28.8% | 28.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 22.0% | 22.0% | 22.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 18.3% | 17.5% | 19.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.1% | 13.7% | 14.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
- 55 Tajikistan 15.1% compare
- 56 Kyrgyzstan 15.0% compare
- 57 Morocco 14.9% compare
- 59 Saudi Arabia 13.6% compare
- 60 Egypt 13.0% compare
- 61 Oman 12.7% compare
- 61 Thailand 12.7% compare
More gender data for Colombia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 10,499 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.3937 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 339,895 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 354,522 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 343,649 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 358,222 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 346,714 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 361,329 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 349,634 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 364,332 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Colombia?
- Malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Colombia was 14.4% in 2016, 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 28.8% in 1986.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.7% in 2010.
- How does Colombia rank for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female?
- Colombia ranks 58th out of 83 countries with data for 2016.
- Is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Colombia 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.