Children moderately or severely stunted in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Children moderately or severely stunted was 59,602 num th in 2024. β–² Rising

Latest (2024)
59,602 num th
Change on year
up 2.0%
Rank
4th
of 35 groups
All-time high
59,602 num th
in 2024
All-time low
49,671 num th
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Children moderately or severely stunted in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2024

020.0k40.0k60.0k2000201220242000: 49.7k num th2001: 50.6k num th2002: 51.5k num th2003: 52.3k num th2004: 53.1k num th2005: 53.9k num th2006: 54.5k num th2007: 55.0k num th2008: 55.3k num th2009: 55.4k num th2010: 55.4k num th2011: 55.4k num th2012: 55.4k num th2013: 55.5k num th2014: 55.7k num th2015: 55.8k num th2016: 55.9k num th2017: 55.8k num th2018: 55.6k num th2019: 55.5k num th2020: 55.7k num th2021: 56.2k num th2022: 57.3k num th2023: 58.4k num th2024: 59.6k num th

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in num th.

Analysis

In 2024, children moderately or severely stunted in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 59,602 num th. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.

The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 7.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, children moderately or severely stunted in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 59,602 num th in 2024 and was at its lowest, 49,671 num th, in 2000.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa 4th out of 35 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 53,130 num th 49,671 num th 55,426 num th 10
2010s 55,614 num th 55,391 num th 55,888 num th 10
2020s 57,449 num th 55,666 num th 59,602 num th 5

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 1 India 37,401 num th compare
  2. 2 Nigeria 11,438 num th compare
  3. 3 Pakistan 10,739 num th compare
  4. 4 Democratic Republic of the Congo 8,722 num th compare
  5. 5 Ethiopia 6,890 num th compare
  6. 6 Indonesia 5,031 num th compare
  7. 7 Bangladesh 4,189 num th compare

See the full ranking of 198 places β†’

More development goals data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is children moderately or severely stunted in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Children moderately or severely stunted in Sub-Saharan Africa was 59,602 num th in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest children moderately or severely stunted recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 59,602 num th in 2024.
What is the lowest children moderately or severely stunted recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 49,671 num th in 2000.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for children moderately or severely stunted?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 4th out of 35 groups with data for 2024.
Is children moderately or severely stunted rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan 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.

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Children moderately or severely stunted in Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 16 August 2026, from https://development-goals.statizoid.com/stat/children-moderately-or-severely-stunted-thousands/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Children moderately or severely stunted (thousands)
Unit
num th
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
198 places, 4,950 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed