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

India: Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting was 35.5 in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
35.5
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
14th
of 97 countries
All-time high
62.7
in 1989
All-time low
35.5
in 2020
Years of data
10
1989–2020

Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in India, 1989–2020

02040601989200420201989: 62.71991: 61.91992: 57.11997: 45.91999: 512006: 47.82014: 38.72015: 37.92017: 36.12020: 35.5

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

India recorded 35.5 for share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.

The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 25.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in India peaked at 62.7 in 1989 and was at its lowest, 35.5, in 2020.

That places India 14th out of 97 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in India, 1989 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1989 62.7
1991 61.9 -1.3%
1992 57.1 -7.8%
1997 45.9 -19.6%
1999 51 +11.1%
2006 47.8 -6.3%
2014 38.7 -19.0%
2015 37.9 -2.1%
2017 36.1 -4.7%
2020 35.5 -1.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 62.7 62.7 62.7 1
1990s 53.98 45.9 61.9 4
2000s 47.8 47.8 47.8 1
2010s 37.57 36.1 38.7 3
2020s 35.5 35.5 35.5 1

Countries ranked near India

  1. 11 Ethiopia 36.8 compare
  2. 12 Mozambique 36.7 compare
  3. 13 Lesotho 35.6 compare
  4. 14 Malawi 35.5 compare
  5. 16 Zambia 34.6 compare
  6. 17 Benin 34.1 compare

See the full ranking of 97 places →

More reference data data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in India?
Share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting in India was 35.5 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 62.7 in 1989.
What is the lowest share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 35.5 in 2020.
How does India rank for share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting?
India ranks 14th out of 97 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of children younger than 5 who suffer from stunting rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this India 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 India. 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/india/

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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