Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Laos
Laos: Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female was 34.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Laos, 2000–2023
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
Laos recorded 34.6% for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in 2023.
The figure is down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Laos peaked at 48.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 34.0%, in 2017.
That places Laos 20th out of 83 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Laos, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 48.9% | — |
| 2006 | 48.3% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 45.7% | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 37.4% | -18.2% |
| 2017 | 34.0% | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 34.6% | +1.8% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 34.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 24.6%, 1.4× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Laos's 34.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23.5%, 1.5× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 48.6% | 48.3% | 48.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 39.0% | 34.0% | 45.7% | 3 |
| 2020s | 34.6% | 34.6% | 34.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More gender data for Laos
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 2,335 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.3716 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 6,022 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 6,022 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.71 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 77,014 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 80,573 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 76,875 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 80,330 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 76,857 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Laos?
- Malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Laos was 34.6% in 2023, 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 48.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.0% in 2017.
- How does Laos rank for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female?
- Laos ranks 20th out of 83 countries with data for 2023.
- Is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Laos 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.