Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted was 124,400 in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
124,400
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
78th
of 162 countries
All-time high
129,600
in 2000
All-time low
114,500
in 2005
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted in United Kingdom, 2000–2024

050.0k100.0k150.0k2000201220242000: 129.6k2001: 123.9k2002: 119.8k2003: 116.8k2004: 115.0k2005: 114.5k2006: 114.8k2007: 115.5k2008: 115.9k2009: 115.9k2010: 115.4k2011: 115.1k2012: 114.9k2013: 114.8k2014: 115.3k2015: 116.2k2016: 116.7k2017: 116.7k2018: 116.6k2019: 116.3k2020: 117.2k2021: 118.8k2022: 120.8k2023: 122.2k2024: 124.4k

Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for malnutrition: number of children who are stunted in United Kingdom is 124,400, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 7.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, malnutrition: number of children who are stunted in United Kingdom peaked at 129,600 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 114,500, in 2005.

That places United Kingdom 78th out of 162 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 118,170 114,500 129,600 10
2010s 115,800 114,800 116,700 10
2020s 120,680 117,200 124,400 5

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 75 Ukraine 147,100 compare
  2. 76 Congo 146,000 compare
  3. 77 Bolivia 134,400 compare
  4. 79 Kazakhstan 93,700 compare
  5. 80 Lesotho 92,100 compare
  6. 81 Jordan 88,400 compare

See the full ranking of 162 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is malnutrition: number of children who are stunted in United Kingdom?
Malnutrition: number of children who are stunted in United Kingdom was 124,400 in 2024, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest malnutrition: number of children who are stunted recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 129,600 in 2000.
What is the lowest malnutrition: number of children who are stunted recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 114,500 in 2005.
How does United Kingdom rank for malnutrition: number of children who are stunted?
United Kingdom ranks 78th out of 162 countries with data for 2024.
Is malnutrition: number of children who are stunted rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

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About this data

Indicator
Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted
Source
World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
162 places, 4,050 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

The number of children younger than five who are stunted – significantly shorter than the average for their age, as a consequence of poor nutrition or repeated infection.