Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in South Africa
South Africa: Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted was 21.3% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in South Africa, 1994–2017
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2017, malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in South Africa stood at 21.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 22.3% on the previous year and down 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in South Africa peaked at 30.1% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 21.2%, in 2015.
That places South Africa 43rd out of 97 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 28.7% | — |
| 1999 | 30.1% | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 25.0% | -16.9% |
| 2015 | 21.2% | -15.2% |
| 2016 | 27.4% | +29.2% |
| 2017 | 21.3% | -22.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 29.4% | 28.7% | 30.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 25.0% | 25.0% | 25.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 23.3% | 21.2% | 27.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in South Africa?
- Malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in South Africa was 21.3% in 2017, 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 30.1% in 1999.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: share of children who are stunted recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.2% in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for malnutrition: share of children who are stunted?
- South Africa ranks 43rd out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
- Is malnutrition: share of children who are stunted rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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 — 6 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.