Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Zambia
Zambia: Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted was 34.6% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Zambia, 1992–2018
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 34.6% for malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is down 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Zambia peaked at 59.2% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 34.6%, in 2018.
Zambia ranks 16th of 97 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Malnutrition: Share of children who are stunted in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 46.3% | — |
| 1995 | 58.1% | +25.5% |
| 1996 | 48.6% | -16.4% |
| 1999 | 59.2% | +21.8% |
| 2002 | 52.5% | -11.3% |
| 2007 | 45.8% | -12.8% |
| 2013 | 40.0% | -12.7% |
| 2018 | 34.6% | -13.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 53.0% | 46.3% | 59.2% | 4 |
| 2000s | 49.1% | 45.8% | 52.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 37.3% | 34.6% | 40.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.3261 °C (2026)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 19.51 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 19.51 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 19.51 (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5273 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.2981 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Zambia?
- Malnutrition: share of children who are stunted in Zambia was 34.6% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 59.2% in 1999.
- What is the lowest malnutrition: share of children who are stunted recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.6% in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for malnutrition: share of children who are stunted?
- Zambia ranks 16th out of 97 countries with data for 2018.
- Is malnutrition: share of children who are stunted rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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 — 8 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.