Share of children who are stunted vs. CO₂ emissions per capita in South Africa

South Africa: Share of children who are stunted vs. CO₂ emissions per capita was 21.3% in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
21.3%
Change on year
down 22.3%
World rank
43rd
of 97 countries
All-time high
30.1%
in 1999
All-time low
21.2%
in 2015
Years of data
6
1994–2017

Share of children who are stunted vs. CO₂ emissions per capita in South Africa, 1994–2017

01020301994200520171994: 28.7 %1999: 30.1 %2008: 25 %2015: 21.2 %2016: 27.4 %2017: 21.3 %

Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 21.3% for share of children who are stunted vs. co₂ emissions per capita in 2017.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 22.3% on the previous year and down 14.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of children who are stunted vs. co₂ emissions per capita in South Africa peaked at 30.1% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 21.2%, in 2015.

That places South Africa 43rd out of 97 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.

Share of children who are stunted vs. CO₂ emissions per capita in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Share of children who are stunted vs. CO₂ emissions per capita in South Africa, 1994 to 2017.
Year % Change
1994 28.7%
1999 30.1% +4.9%
2008 25.0% -16.9%
2015 21.2% -15.2%
2016 27.4% +29.2%
2017 21.3% -22.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 29.4% 28.7% 30.1% 2
2000s 25.0% 25.0% 25.0% 1
2010s 23.3% 21.2% 27.4% 3

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 40 Haiti 22.0% compare
  2. 40 Indonesia 22.0% compare
  3. 42 Cambodia 21.9% compare
  4. 44 Malaysia 21.2% compare
  5. 45 Burkina Faso 21.1% compare
  6. 46 Eswatini 20.0% compare

See the full ranking of 97 places →

More climate change data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of children who are stunted vs. co₂ emissions per capita in South Africa?
Share of children who are stunted vs. co₂ emissions per capita in South Africa was 21.3% in 2017, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of children who are stunted vs. co₂ emissions per capita recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 30.1% in 1999.
What is the lowest share of children who are stunted vs. co₂ emissions per capita recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 21.2% in 2015.
How does South Africa rank for share of children who are stunted vs. co₂ emissions per capita?
South Africa ranks 43rd out of 97 countries with data for 2017.
Is share of children who are stunted vs. co₂ emissions per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa 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 Share of children who are stunted vs. CO₂ emissions per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of children who are stunted vs. CO₂ emissions per capita in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-children-who-are-stunted-vs-co-emissions-per-capita/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of children who are stunted vs. CO₂ emissions per capita
Unit
%
Source
World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
97 places, 955 data points, 1985–2024
Last refreshed

The share of children younger than five who are stunted – significantly shorter than the average for their age, as a consequence of poor nutrition and/or repeated infection.