Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in India
India: Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female was 36.2% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in India, 1992–2020
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 2020, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in India stood at 36.2%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in India peaked at 58.4% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 36.2%, in 2020.
That places India 17th out of 83 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in India, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 58.4% | — |
| 1999 | 51.1% | -12.5% |
| 2006 | 47.8% | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 39.5% | -17.4% |
| 2015 | 38.3% | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 36.4% | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 36.2% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.8% | 51.1% | 58.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 47.8% | 47.8% | 47.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 38.1% | 36.4% | 39.5% | 3 |
| 2020s | 36.2% | 36.2% | 36.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More gender data for India
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 341,454 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.5667 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 10.96 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 11.71 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 10.92 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 11.70 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 10.89 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 11.70 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 10.88 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 11.71 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in India?
- Malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in India was 36.2% in 2020, 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 58.4% in 1992.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.2% in 2020.
- How does India rank for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female?
- India ranks 17th out of 83 countries with data for 2020.
- Is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.