Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female was 29.1% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sierra Leone, 2000–2021
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
The most recent figure for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sierra Leone is 29.1%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 9.3% on the previous year and down 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sierra Leone peaked at 47.3% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 29.1%, in 2021.
That places Sierra Leone 25th out of 83 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 39.0% | — |
| 2005 | 47.3% | +21.3% |
| 2010 | 36.2% | -23.5% |
| 2014 | 32.7% | -9.7% |
| 2017 | 33.7% | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 32.1% | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 29.1% | -9.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.1% | 39.0% | 47.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 33.7% | 32.1% | 36.2% | 4 |
| 2020s | 29.1% | 29.1% | 29.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 22 Liberia 31.8% compare
- 23 Guinea-Bissau 31.4% compare
- 24 Cameroon 31.2% compare
- 25 Guinea 29.1% compare
- 27 Mauritania 27.6% compare
- 28 Philippines 27.2% compare
- 28 Uganda 27.2% compare
More gender data for Sierra Leone
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 3,446 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.722 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 122,158 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 124,999 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 118,334 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 120,652 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 116,120 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 118,274 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 114,582 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 116,632 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sierra Leone?
- Malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sierra Leone was 29.1% in 2021, 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 47.3% in 2005.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.1% in 2021.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female?
- Sierra Leone ranks 25th out of 83 countries with data for 2021.
- Is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.