Childhood stunting rates in India
India: Childhood stunting rates was 40.6% in 2015. ▼ Falling
Childhood stunting rates in India, 1955–2015
Source: Schneider et al. (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 40.6% for childhood stunting rates in 2015. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 23.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, childhood stunting rates in India peaked at 70.5% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 40.6%, in 2015.
That places India 3rd out of 34 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 59.4% | 59.4% | 59.4% | 1 |
| 1980s | 70.5% | 70.5% | 70.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 59.2% | 59.2% | 59.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 53.1% | 53.1% | 53.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 40.6% | 40.6% | 40.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
- 1 Ethiopia 45.4% compare
- 2 Malawi 40.7% compare
- 4 Philippines 37.6% compare
- 5 Bangladesh 34.2% compare
- 6 Myanmar 33.0% compare
More reference data data for India
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.8635 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.6189 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0088 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.3046 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.2053 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 233.06 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is childhood stunting rates in India?
- Childhood stunting rates in India was 40.6% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 70.5% in 1985.
- What is the lowest childhood stunting rates recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.6% in 2015.
- How does India rank for childhood stunting rates?
- India ranks 3rd out of 34 countries with data for 2015.
- Is childhood stunting rates rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.