Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in India
India: Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita was 35.5% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in India, 1989–2020
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in India stood at 35.5%. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 25.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in India peaked at 62.7% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 35.5%, in 2020.
India ranks 14th of 97 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Share of children who are stunted vs. GDP per capita in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 62.7% | — |
| 1991 | 61.9% | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 57.1% | -7.8% |
| 1997 | 45.9% | -19.6% |
| 1999 | 51.0% | +11.1% |
| 2006 | 47.8% | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 38.7% | -19.0% |
| 2015 | 37.9% | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 36.1% | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 35.5% | -1.7% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 35.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.7%, 1.6× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- India's 35.5% is above the median for South Asia, which is 20.8%, 1.7× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 62.7% | 62.7% | 62.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 54.0% | 45.9% | 61.9% | 4 |
| 2000s | 47.8% | 47.8% | 47.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 37.6% | 36.1% | 38.7% | 3 |
| 2020s | 35.5% | 35.5% | 35.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More economy & growth data for India
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 5.66 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 35.69 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.009 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 24.38 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 39.10 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 44.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0099 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 26.71 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.87 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in India?
- Share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita in India was 35.5% in 2020, 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. gdp per capita recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 62.7% in 1989.
- What is the lowest share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.5% in 2020.
- How does India rank for share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita?
- India ranks 14th out of 97 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of children who are stunted vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of children who are stunted – significantly shorter than the average for their age. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.