Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female was 39.8% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Ethiopia, 2000–2019
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 2019, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Ethiopia stood at 39.8%. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Ethiopia peaked at 59.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 39.8%, in 2019.
Ethiopia ranks 10th of 83 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 59.1% | — |
| 2005 | 51.3% | -13.2% |
| 2011 | 46.2% | -9.9% |
| 2014 | 41.0% | -11.3% |
| 2016 | 41.3% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 39.8% | -3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 55.2% | 51.3% | 59.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 42.1% | 39.8% | 46.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 7 Madagascar 43.6% compare
- 8 Mozambique 40.9% compare
- 9 Central African Republic 40.8% compare
- 11 Malawi 39.3% compare
- 12 Lesotho 38.3% compare
- 12 Zambia 38.3% compare
More gender data for Ethiopia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 57,452 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.69 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 1.98 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 2.07 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 1.95 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 2.04 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 1.92 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 2.01 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 1.89 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 1.98 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Ethiopia?
- Malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Ethiopia was 39.8% in 2019, 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 59.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.8% in 2019.
- How does Ethiopia rank for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female?
- Ethiopia ranks 10th out of 83 countries with data for 2019.
- Is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.
Download this data
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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.