Stunting in children — all countries

Stunting in children — Ecuador

Stunting in children in Ecuador in 2024 — 17.4%. Ranked 2 in the world out of 6. Since 1986, the indicator has fallen by 22.8 pp.

2024 17.4% −0.1 pp vs 2023
World rank 2of 6
Period maximum 40.2%1986
Period minimum 17.4%2024

Trend over time

1986–2024 · % of children under 5

Stunting in children — Ecuador, 1986–20241020304050198619901994199820022006201020142018202220241986: 40.2%1999: 27.9%2004: 29.2%2006: 25.9%2012: 25.4%2014: 23.9%2023: 17.5%2024: 17.4%
Change over the period: −22.8 pp Annual average: -0.6 pp
Stunting in children — Ecuador, by year Ecuador All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 17.4 −0.1 pp
2023 17.5
2014 23.9
2012 25.4
2006 25.9
2004 29.2
1999 27.9
1986 40.2

About the indicator

The share of children under five whose height falls short of the WHO norm for their age by more than two standard deviations. Stunting is the trace of a prolonged shortage of nutrition in the first years of life, and it is irreversible: height cannot be made up later. That is why the indicator is considered the main measure of chronic undernutrition, unlike wasting, which speaks of an acute shortage of food right now.

Important: The data come from sample household surveys and are not annual: for the intervening years there are no values. The aggregate by country group is weighted by the number of children aged 0–14 — it cannot be weighted by population, the share of small children is too different.

Source: Global Health Observatory (WHO), license CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.