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%.
Childhood stunting rates in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 59.4% | — |
| 1985 | 70.5% | +18.7% |
| 1995 | 59.2% | -16.1% |
| 2005 | 53.1% | -10.3% |
| 2015 | 40.6% | -23.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 40.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 24.5%, 1.7× the median. (8 countries reporting)
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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
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.