Children moderately or severely stunted in Zambia

Zambia: Children moderately or severely stunted was 1,036 num th in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
1,036 num th
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
31st
of 178 countries
All-time high
1,117 num th
in 2009
All-time low
960.7 num th
in 2020
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Children moderately or severely stunted in Zambia, 2000–2024

02505007501.0k2000201220242000: 989 num th2001: 1.0k num th2002: 1.0k num th2003: 1.0k num th2004: 1.1k num th2005: 1.1k num th2006: 1.1k num th2007: 1.1k num th2008: 1.1k num th2009: 1.1k num th2010: 1.1k num th2011: 1.1k num th2012: 1.1k num th2013: 1.1k num th2014: 1.1k num th2015: 1.1k num th2016: 1.0k num th2017: 1.0k num th2018: 991.3 num th2019: 971.8 num th2020: 960.7 num th2021: 963.9 num th2022: 984.8 num th2023: 1.0k num th2024: 1.0k num th

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

Analysis

In 2024, children moderately or severely stunted in Zambia stood at 1,036 num th.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, children moderately or severely stunted in Zambia peaked at 1,117 num th in 2009 and was at its lowest, 960.7 num th, in 2020.

Zambia ranks 31st of 178 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

Children moderately or severely stunted in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Children moderately or severely stunted (thousands) in Zambia, 2000 to 2024.
Year num th Change
2000 989 num th —
2001 1,012 num th +2.3%
2002 1,033 num th +2.1%
2003 1,050 num th +1.6%
2004 1,064 num th +1.4%
2005 1,080 num th +1.4%
2006 1,095 num th +1.4%
2007 1,106 num th +1.0%
2008 1,114 num th +0.7%
2009 1,117 num th +0.2%
2010 1,112 num th -0.4%
2011 1,102 num th -0.9%
2012 1,091 num th -1.0%
2013 1,081 num th -0.9%
2014 1,071 num th -0.9%
2015 1,058 num th -1.1%
2016 1,040 num th -1.7%
2017 1,016 num th -2.3%
2018 991.3 num th -2.4%
2019 971.8 num th -2.0%
2020 960.7 num th -1.1%
2021 963.9 num th +0.3%
2022 984.8 num th +2.2%
2023 1,009 num th +2.5%
2024 1,036 num th +2.6%

Zambia compared with similar countries

  • Zambia's 1,036 num th is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 304.9 num th, 3.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
  • Zambia's 1,036 num th is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 564.3 num th, 1.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1,066 num th 989 num th 1,117 num th 10
2010s 1,053 num th 971.8 num th 1,112 num th 10
2020s 990.98 num th 960.7 num th 1,036 num th 5

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 28 Chad 1,163 num th compare
  2. 29 Myanmar 1,077 num th compare
  3. 30 Malawi 1,038 num th compare
  4. 32 Mali 986.9 num th compare
  5. 33 Côte d'Ivoire 939.9 num th compare
  6. 33 Cote d'Ivoire 939.9 num th compare

See the full ranking of 210 places →

More development goals data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is children moderately or severely stunted in Zambia?
Children moderately or severely stunted in Zambia was 1,036 num th in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest children moderately or severely stunted recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 1,117 num th in 2009.
What is the lowest children moderately or severely stunted recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 960.7 num th in 2020.
How does Zambia rank for children moderately or severely stunted?
Zambia ranks 31st out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
Is children moderately or severely stunted rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Zambia 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 Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://development-goals.statizoid.com/stat/children-moderately-or-severely-stunted-thousands/zambia/

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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
210 places, 5,250 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed