Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in El Salvador
El Salvador: Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female was 10.9% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in El Salvador, 1988–2021
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
El Salvador recorded 10.9% for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 49.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in El Salvador peaked at 39.5% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 10.9%, in 2021.
El Salvador ranks 67th of 83 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 39.5% | — |
| 1993 | 32.8% | -17.0% |
| 1998 | 33.3% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 25.6% | -23.1% |
| 2008 | 21.6% | -15.6% |
| 2014 | 15.3% | -29.2% |
| 2021 | 10.9% | -28.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 39.5% | 39.5% | 39.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 33.0% | 32.8% | 33.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 23.6% | 21.6% | 25.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 15.3% | 15.3% | 15.3% | 1 |
| 2020s | 10.9% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More gender data for El Salvador
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 1,446 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.44 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 5,040 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 5,040 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.8586 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 47,387 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 49,616 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 47,477 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 49,704 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 47,581 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in El Salvador?
- Malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in El Salvador was 10.9% 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 39.5% in 1988.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.9% in 2021.
- How does El Salvador rank for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female?
- El Salvador ranks 67th out of 83 countries with data for 2021.
- Is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.