Childhood stunting rates in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Childhood stunting rates was 45.4% in 2015. ▼ Falling
Childhood stunting rates in Ethiopia, 1965–2015
Source: Schneider et al. (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 45.4% for childhood stunting rates in 2015. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, childhood stunting rates in Ethiopia peaked at 75.3% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 45.4%, in 2015.
Ethiopia ranks 1st of 34 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Childhood stunting rates in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 59.6% | — |
| 1985 | 75.3% | +26.4% |
| 1995 | 66.0% | -12.3% |
| 2005 | 55.2% | -16.3% |
| 2015 | 45.4% | -17.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 45.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 24.5%, 1.9× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 59.6% | 59.6% | 59.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 75.3% | 75.3% | 75.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 66.0% | 66.0% | 66.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 55.2% | 55.2% | 55.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 45.4% | 45.4% | 45.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More reference data data for Ethiopia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6564 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 100.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.47 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is childhood stunting rates in Ethiopia?
- Childhood stunting rates in Ethiopia was 45.4% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 75.3% in 1985.
- What is the lowest childhood stunting rates recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.4% in 2015.
- How does Ethiopia rank for childhood stunting rates?
- Ethiopia ranks 1st out of 34 countries with data for 2015.
- Is childhood stunting rates rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.