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
Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted in United Kingdom, 2000–2024
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.
Malnutrition: Number of children who are stunted in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 129,600 | — |
| 2001 | 123,900 | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 119,800 | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 116,800 | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 115,000 | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 114,500 | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 114,800 | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 115,500 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 115,900 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 115,900 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 115,400 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 115,100 | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 114,900 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 114,800 | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 115,300 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 116,200 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 116,700 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 116,700 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 116,600 | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 116,300 | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 117,200 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 118,800 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 120,800 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 122,200 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 124,400 | +1.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 124,400 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11,800, 10.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 124,400 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 13,750, 9.0× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
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
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.