Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in China

China: Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting was 4.8 in 2017. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2017)
4.8
World rank
88th
of 97 countries
All-time high
38.3
in 1987
All-time low
4.8
in 2017
Years of data
13
1987–2017

Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in China, 1987–2017

0102030401987200220171987: 38.31990: 32.31992: 381995: 31.21998: 19.82000: 17.82002: 21.82005: 11.72008: 9.82009: 92010: 9.42013: 8.12017: 4.8

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2017, share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in China stood at 4.8. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.

The figure is down 51.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in China peaked at 38.3 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 4.8, in 2017.

That places China 88th out of 97 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in China, year by year

Annual values for Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in China, 1987 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1987 38.3
1990 32.3 -15.7%
1992 38 +17.6%
1995 31.2 -17.9%
1998 19.8 -36.5%
2000 17.8 -10.1%
2002 21.8 +22.5%
2005 11.7 -46.3%
2008 9.8 -16.2%
2009 9 -8.2%
2010 9.4 +4.4%
2013 8.1 -13.8%
2017 4.8 -40.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 38.3 38.3 38.3 1
1990s 30.32 19.8 38 4
2000s 14.02 9 21.8 5
2010s 7.43 4.8 9.4 3

Countries ranked near China

  1. 85 Azerbaijan 6.6 compare
  2. 86 Uzbekistan 6.5 compare
  3. 87 Türkiye 6 compare
  4. 88 Iran, Islamic Republic of 4.8 compare
  5. 90 Jamaica 4.6 compare
  6. 91 United States of America 3.8 compare

See the full ranking of 97 places →

More reference data data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in China?
Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in China was 4.8 in 2017, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 38.3 in 1987.
What is the lowest share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 4.8 in 2017.
How does China rank for share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting?
China ranks 88th out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
Is share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 51.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in China. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-children-younger-than-5-who-suffer-from-stunting/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
97 places, 955 data points, 1985–2024
Last refreshed