Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted was 44.6% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Afghanistan, 1997–2022
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Afghanistan stood at 44.6%.
That represents a change of up 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Afghanistan peaked at 59.3% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 38.2%, in 2018.
Afghanistan ranks 7th of 97 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 53.2% | — |
| 2004 | 59.3% | +11.5% |
| 2013 | 40.4% | -31.9% |
| 2018 | 38.2% | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 44.6% | +16.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 53.2% | 53.2% | 53.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 59.3% | 59.3% | 59.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 39.3% | 38.2% | 40.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 44.6% | 44.6% | 44.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 4 Timor-Leste 46.7% compare
- 5 Guatemala 46.0% compare
- 6 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 44.7% compare
- 8 Madagascar 39.8% compare
- 9 Central African Republic 37.9% compare
- 10 Pakistan 37.6% compare
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Afghanistan?
- Malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Afghanistan was 44.6% in 2022, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest malnutrition: share of children who are stunted recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 59.3% in 2004.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: share of children who are stunted recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.2% in 2018.
- How does Afghanistan rank for malnutrition: share of children who are stunted?
- Afghanistan ranks 7th out of 97 countries with data for 2022.
- Is malnutrition: share of children who are stunted rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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: Share of children who are stunted. 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 younger than five years old who are defined as stunted. Stunting is when a child is significantly shorter than the average for their age. It is a consequence of poor nutrition or repeated infection.