A new 2024 snapshot on child stunting highlights the persistent burden of chronic malnutrition across several countries, with Burundi topping the list at 55.3 per cent of children under five affected.
Niger and Eritrea follow closely at 48.3 per cent and 48.0 per cent respectively, underscoring the severity of the crisis in parts of Africa.
Angola (47.7%), Papua New Guinea (47.6%), and Yemen (47.4%) also report alarmingly high rates, pointing to a global challenge that extends beyond one region.
Timor-Leste (45.4%), Guatemala (44.6%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (44.1%), and Afghanistan (42.0%) complete the top ten.
Child stunting, defined as impaired growth due to long-term malnutrition, repeated illness, and poor living conditions, remains a key indicator of inequality and inadequate access to nutrition.
The figures, drawn from the 2025 Global Hunger Index, underline the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve child health, strengthen food systems, and address underlying socio-economic factors contributing to malnutrition.
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