Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Pakistan
Pakistan: Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted was 37.6% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Pakistan, 1986–2018
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Pakistan recorded 37.6% for malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Pakistan peaked at 62.5% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 37.6%, in 2018.
That places Pakistan 10th out of 97 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 62.5% | — |
| 1991 | 53.9% | -13.8% |
| 1992 | 42.7% | -20.8% |
| 2001 | 41.4% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 43.6% | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 45.0% | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 37.6% | -16.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 62.5% | 62.5% | 62.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 48.3% | 42.7% | 53.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 41.4% | 41.4% | 41.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 42.1% | 37.6% | 45.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 7 Afghanistan 44.6% compare
- 8 Madagascar 39.8% compare
- 9 Central African Republic 37.9% compare
- 11 Ethiopia 36.8% compare
- 12 Mozambique 36.7% compare
- 13 Lesotho 35.6% compare
More reference data data for Pakistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 91.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 260 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.79 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Pakistan?
- Malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Pakistan was 37.6% in 2018, 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 62.5% in 1986.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: share of children who are stunted recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.6% in 2018.
- How does Pakistan rank for malnutrition: share of children who are stunted?
- Pakistan ranks 10th out of 97 countries with data for 2018.
- Is malnutrition: share of children who are stunted rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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 — 7 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.