Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female was 17.9% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sri Lanka, 1987–2016
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
Sri Lanka recorded 17.9% for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in 2016.
The figure is down 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sri Lanka peaked at 31.8% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 14.8%, in 2012.
That places Sri Lanka 52nd out of 83 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
Malnutrition: Prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 31.8% | — |
| 1993 | 28.1% | -11.6% |
| 2000 | 17.3% | -38.4% |
| 2007 | 18.8% | +8.7% |
| 2009 | 19.8% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 14.8% | -25.3% |
| 2016 | 17.9% | +20.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 31.8% | 31.8% | 31.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 28.1% | 28.1% | 28.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 18.6% | 17.3% | 19.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 16.4% | 14.8% | 17.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More gender data for Sri Lanka
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,804 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.8687 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 155,366 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 162,031 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 156,342 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 163,015 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 157,484 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 164,192 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 158,342 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 165,089 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sri Lanka?
- Malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female in Sri Lanka was 17.9% in 2016, 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 31.8% in 1987.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.8% in 2012.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female?
- Sri Lanka ranks 52nd out of 83 countries with data for 2016.
- Is malnutrition: prevalence of childhood stunting, male vs. female rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.