Share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities in Colombia

Colombia: Share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities was 12.7% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
12.7%
World rank
66th
of 97 countries
All-time high
25.7%
in 1986
All-time low
12.6%
in 2010
Years of data
7
1986–2016

Share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities in Colombia, 1986–2016

01020301986200120161986: 25.7 %1988: 21.8 %1995: 19.6 %2000: 18.2 %2005: 16 %2010: 12.6 %2016: 12.7 %

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

Analysis

In 2016, share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities in Colombia stood at 12.7%.

The figure is down 20.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities in Colombia peaked at 25.7% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 12.6%, in 2010.

Colombia ranks 66th of 97 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities in Colombia, year by year

Annual values for Share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities in Colombia, 1986 to 2016.
Year % Change
1986 25.7% —
1988 21.8% -15.2%
1995 19.6% -10.1%
2000 18.2% -7.1%
2005 16.0% -12.1%
2010 12.6% -21.3%
2016 12.7% +0.8%

Colombia compared with similar countries

  • Colombia's 12.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.5%, 1.2× the median. (27 countries reporting)
  • Colombia's 12.7% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.6%, 1.0× the median. (16 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 23.8% 21.8% 25.7% 2
1990s 19.6% 19.6% 19.6% 1
2000s 17.1% 16.0% 18.2% 2
2010s 12.6% 12.6% 12.7% 2

Countries ranked near Colombia

  1. 63 Venezuela 13.4% compare
  2. 64 Egypt 12.8% compare
  3. 64 Romania 12.8% compare
  4. 67 Iraq 12.6% compare
  5. 68 Mexico 12.5% compare
  6. 69 Thailand 12.4% compare

See the full ranking of 97 places →

More reference data data for Colombia

All data for Colombia →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities in Colombia?
Share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities in Colombia was 12.7% in 2016, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities recorded in Colombia?
The highest recorded value was 25.7% in 1986.
What is the lowest share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities recorded in Colombia?
The lowest recorded value was 12.6% in 2010.
How does Colombia rank for share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities?
Colombia ranks 66th out of 97 countries with data for 2016.
Is share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities rising or falling in Colombia?
Over the last ten years it is down 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Colombia 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 Share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities in Colombia. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-stunting-vs-improved-sanitation-facilities/colombia/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of children who are stunted vs. improved sanitation facilities
Unit
%
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
97 places, 955 data points, 1985–2024
Last refreshed

A child is defined as stunted if their height-for-age is more than two standard deviations below the median for the international reference population ages 0-59 months. Improved sanitation facilities are those designed to separate excreta from human contact hygienically.