Children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa
South Africa: Children moderately or severely stunted was 1,440 num th in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
1,440 num th
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
20th
of 178 countries
All-time high
1,440 num th
in 2024
All-time low
1,231 num th
in 2019
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in num th.
Analysis
In 2024, children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa stood at 1,440 num th. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa peaked at 1,440 num th in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1,231 num th, in 2019.
South Africa ranks 20th of 178 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa, year by year
| Year | num th | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,364 num th | — |
| 2001 | 1,318 num th | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 1,288 num th | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 1,273 num th | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 1,270 num th | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 1,281 num th | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 1,295 num th | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 1,303 num th | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 1,310 num th | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 1,308 num th | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 1,288 num th | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 1,269 num th | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 1,261 num th | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 1,254 num th | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 1,254 num th | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1,268 num th | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 1,273 num th | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 1,256 num th | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 1,234 num th | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 1,231 num th | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 1,254 num th | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 1,308 num th | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 1,370 num th | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 1,408 num th | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 1,440 num th | +2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1,440 num th is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 46.05 num th, 31.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1,440 num th is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 564.3 num th, 2.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,301 num th | 1,270 num th | 1,364 num th | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,259 num th | 1,231 num th | 1,288 num th | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,356 num th | 1,254 num th | 1,440 num th | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More development goals data for South Africa
- Red List Index 0.8693 index (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 1.8 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 651.49 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 105 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 101 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 33 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 40 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 56 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 61 (2025)
- Infant deaths 28,570 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa?
- Children moderately or severely stunted in South Africa was 1,440 num th in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest children moderately or severely stunted recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,440 num th in 2024.
- What is the lowest children moderately or severely stunted recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,231 num th in 2019.
- How does South Africa rank for children moderately or severely stunted?
- South Africa ranks 20th out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children moderately or severely stunted rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Children moderately or severely stunted (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).