Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Pakistan
Pakistan: Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female was 38.2% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Pakistan, 1991–2018
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 2018, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Pakistan stood at 38.2%. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of down 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Pakistan peaked at 56.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 38.2%, in 2018.
That places Pakistan 14th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 56.2% | — |
| 1992 | 43.2% | -23.1% |
| 2001 | 42.1% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 44.2% | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 48.2% | +9.0% |
| 2018 | 38.2% | -20.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.7% | 43.2% | 56.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 42.1% | 42.1% | 42.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 43.5% | 38.2% | 48.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More gender data for Pakistan
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 94,592 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6113 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 3.22 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 3.37 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 3.17 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 3.31 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 3.14 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 3.28 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 3.11 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 3.25 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Pakistan?
- Malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Pakistan was 38.2% in 2018, 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 56.2% in 1991.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.2% in 2018.
- How does Pakistan rank for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female?
- Pakistan ranks 14th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
- Is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.