Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Gambia

Gambia: Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted was 17.5% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
17.5%
Change on year
down 7.9%
World rank
53rd
of 97 countries
All-time high
36.1%
in 1996
All-time low
17.5%
in 2020
Years of data
8
1996–2020

Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Gambia, 1996–2020

0102030401996200820201996: 36.1 %2000: 24.1 %2006: 27.7 %2010: 23.4 %2012: 21.1 %2013: 24.6 %2018: 19 %2020: 17.5 %

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Gambia is 17.5%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.

The figure is down 7.9% on the previous year and down 25.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Gambia peaked at 36.1% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 2020.

Gambia ranks 53rd of 97 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Gambia, year by year

Annual values for Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Gambia, 1996 to 2020.
Year % Change
1996 36.1%
2000 24.1% -33.2%
2006 27.7% +14.9%
2010 23.4% -15.5%
2012 21.1% -9.8%
2013 24.6% +16.6%
2018 19.0% -22.8%
2020 17.5% -7.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 36.1% 36.1% 36.1% 1
2000s 25.9% 24.1% 27.7% 2
2010s 22.0% 19.0% 24.6% 4
2020s 17.5% 17.5% 17.5% 1

Countries ranked near Gambia

  1. 51 Bhutan 17.9% compare
  2. 52 Kenya 17.6% compare
  3. 53 Senegal 17.5% compare
  4. 55 Ecuador 17.4% compare
  5. 55 Ghana 17.4% compare

See the full ranking of 97 places →

More reference data data for Gambia

All data for Gambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Gambia?
Malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Gambia was 17.5% in 2020, 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 Gambia?
The highest recorded value was 36.1% in 1996.
What is the lowest malnutrition: share of children who are stunted recorded in Gambia?
The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 2020.
How does Gambia rank for malnutrition: share of children who are stunted?
Gambia ranks 53rd out of 97 countries with data for 2020.
Is malnutrition: share of children who are stunted rising or falling in Gambia?
Over the last ten years it is down 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Gambia 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.

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Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Gambia. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-children-younger-than-5-who-suffer-from-stunting/gambia-the/

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About this data

Indicator
Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted
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

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.