Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Lesotho
Lesotho: Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female was 38.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Lesotho, 2004–2024
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 2024, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Lesotho stood at 38.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Lesotho peaked at 47.4% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 36.6%, in 2018.
Lesotho ranks 12th of 83 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 47.4% | — |
| 2009 | 43.5% | -8.2% |
| 2014 | 39.1% | -10.1% |
| 2018 | 36.6% | -6.4% |
| 2024 | 38.3% | +4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 45.5% | 43.5% | 47.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 37.9% | 36.6% | 39.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 38.3% | 38.3% | 38.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More gender data for Lesotho
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 786.22 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.5717 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 26,291 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 26,787 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 25,880 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 26,319 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 25,717 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 26,150 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 25,706 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 26,127 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Lesotho?
- Malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Lesotho was 38.3% in 2024, 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 47.4% in 2004.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.6% in 2018.
- How does Lesotho rank for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female?
- Lesotho ranks 12th out of 83 countries with data for 2024.
- Is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.