Proportion of children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa
South Africa: Proportion of children moderately or severely stunted was 24.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Proportion of children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa is 24.4%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa peaked at 26.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 22.1%, in 2018.
South Africa ranks 36th of 147 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Proportion of children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 26.6% | — |
| 2001 | 26.4% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 26.3% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 26.3% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 26.3% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 26.2% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 25.8% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 25.2% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 24.5% | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 23.8% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 23.1% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 22.5% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 22.3% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 22.2% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 22.2% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 22.2% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 22.2% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 22.2% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 22.1% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 22.2% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 22.5% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 22.9% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 23.5% | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 23.9% | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 24.4% | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 25.7% | 23.8% | 26.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.3% | 22.1% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.4% | 22.5% | 24.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More infrastructure data for South Africa
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 179.34 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.01 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.58 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0158 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -25.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 1.01 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa?
- Proportion of children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa was 24.4% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of children moderately or severely stunted recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest proportion of children moderately or severely stunted recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.1% in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for proportion of children moderately or severely stunted?
- South Africa ranks 36th out of 147 countries with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of children moderately or severely stunted rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of children moderately or severely stunted (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).