India vs Nigeria: Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted
India
37.40 million
in 2024
Nigeria
11.44 million
in 2024
India rank
1st
Nigeria rank
2nd
Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted over time
- India
- Nigeria
How they compare
India currently reports 37.40 million against 11.44 million in Nigeria, a difference of 25.96 million.
That makes India's figure about 3.3 times Nigeria's.
Across all 25 years both countries report, India has been ahead every year.
India ranks 1st and Nigeria ranks 2nd of 162 countries.
India has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | India | Nigeria | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 63.48 million | 10.37 million | 53.10 million | India |
| 2010s | 49.00 million | 11.55 million | 37.44 million | India |
| 2020s | 38.47 million | 11.23 million | 27.24 million | India |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher malnutrition: number of children who are stunted, India or Nigeria?
- India, at 37.40 million against 11.44 million in Nigeria as of 2024.
- What is the difference in malnutrition: number of children who are stunted between India and Nigeria?
- 25.96 million, with India ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for India and Nigeria?
- 25 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2024.
- How do India and Nigeria rank globally for malnutrition: number of children who are stunted?
- India ranks 1st and Nigeria ranks 2nd of 162 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
The number of children younger than five who are stunted – significantly shorter than the average for their age, as a consequence of poor nutrition or repeated infection.