Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female was 13.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Saudi Arabia, 2004–2020
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
Saudi Arabia recorded 13.6% for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in 2020.
That represents a change of down 17.1% on the previous year and down 28.0% over five years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Saudi Arabia peaked at 18.9% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 10.8%, in 2004.
Saudi Arabia ranks 59th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 10.8% | — |
| 2017 | 18.9% | +75.0% |
| 2018 | 13.8% | -27.0% |
| 2019 | 16.4% | +18.8% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | -17.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 16.4% | 13.8% | 18.9% | 3 |
| 2020s | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More gender data for Saudi Arabia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 8,519 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.7629 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 275,243 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 288,722 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 275,525 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 288,548 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 263,011 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 275,073 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 253,491 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 263,958 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Saudi Arabia?
- Malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Saudi Arabia was 13.6% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.9% in 2017.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.8% in 2004.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 59th out of 83 countries with data for 2020.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.