Childhood stunting rates in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Childhood stunting rates was 17.3% in 2015. ▼ Falling
Childhood stunting rates in Sri Lanka, 1925–2015
Source: Schneider et al. (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 17.3% for childhood stunting rates in 2015. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is down 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, childhood stunting rates in Sri Lanka peaked at 55.5% in 1925 and was at its lowest, 17.3%, in 2015.
Sri Lanka ranks 13th of 34 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Childhood stunting rates in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1925 | 55.5% | — |
| 1985 | 34.5% | -37.8% |
| 1995 | 24.6% | -28.7% |
| 2005 | 18.2% | -26.1% |
| 2015 | 17.3% | -5.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 17.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.9%, 1.6× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 55.5% | 55.5% | 55.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 34.5% | 34.5% | 34.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 24.6% | 24.6% | 24.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 18.2% | 18.2% | 18.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 17.3% | 17.3% | 17.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is childhood stunting rates in Sri Lanka?
- Childhood stunting rates in Sri Lanka was 17.3% 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 55.5% in 1925.
- What is the lowest childhood stunting rates recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.3% in 2015.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for childhood stunting rates?
- Sri Lanka ranks 13th out of 34 countries with data for 2015.
- Is childhood stunting rates rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.