Childhood stunting rates in Colombia

Colombia: Childhood stunting rates was 13.3% in 2015. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2015)
13.3%
World rank
15th
of 34 countries
All-time high
90.5%
in 1955
All-time low
13.3%
in 2015
Years of data
5
1955–2015

Childhood stunting rates in Colombia, 1955–2015

204060801001955198520151955: 90.5 %1985: 26.8 %1995: 21.2 %2005: 14.9 %2015: 13.3 %

Source: Schneider et al. (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2015, childhood stunting rates in Colombia stood at 13.3%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

The figure is down 11.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, childhood stunting rates in Colombia peaked at 90.5% in 1955 and was at its lowest, 13.3%, in 2015.

Colombia ranks 15th of 34 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Childhood stunting rates in Colombia, year by year

Annual values for Childhood stunting rates in Colombia, 1955 to 2015.
Year % Change
1955 90.5% —
1985 26.8% -70.4%
1995 21.2% -20.7%
2005 14.9% -29.6%
2015 13.3% -11.0%

Colombia compared with similar countries

  • Colombia's 13.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.9%, 1.2× the median. (10 countries reporting)
  • Colombia's 13.3% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 10.7%, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 90.5% 90.5% 90.5% 1
1980s 26.8% 26.8% 26.8% 1
1990s 21.2% 21.2% 21.2% 1
2000s 14.9% 14.9% 14.9% 1
2010s 13.3% 13.3% 13.3% 1

Countries ranked near Colombia

  1. 12 South Africa 20.7% compare
  2. 13 Sri Lanka 17.3% compare
  3. 14 Venezuela 15.9% compare
  4. 16 Kazakhstan 8.6% compare
  5. 17 Uruguay 8.1% compare
  6. 18 Jordan 7.7% compare

See the full ranking of 34 places →

More reference data data for Colombia

All data for Colombia →

Frequently asked questions

What is childhood stunting rates in Colombia?
Childhood stunting rates in Colombia was 13.3% in 2015, according to Schneider et al. (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest childhood stunting rates recorded in Colombia?
The highest recorded value was 90.5% in 1955.
What is the lowest childhood stunting rates recorded in Colombia?
The lowest recorded value was 13.3% in 2015.
How does Colombia rank for childhood stunting rates?
Colombia ranks 15th out of 34 countries with data for 2015.
Is childhood stunting rates rising or falling in Colombia?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Colombia data come from?
The figures come from Schneider et al. (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Childhood stunting rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Childhood stunting rates in Colombia. Statizoid, drawing on Schneider et al. (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/long-run-childhood-stunting-rates/colombia/

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<a href="https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/long-run-childhood-stunting-rates/colombia/">Childhood stunting rates in Colombia</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Childhood stunting rates
Unit
%
Source
Schneider et al. (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
34 places, 204 data points, 1895–2015
Last refreshed

Share of children between 2 and 10 years old who are stunted, so shorter than would be expected for their age. Stunting is a sign of long-term malnutrition or poor health in early childhood.