New Estimates on Child Nutrition - UNICEF

 

Good nutrition is a cornerstone of a child's survival, growth and development, empowering them to learn, engage, and to contribute positively to society. Conversely, malnutrition can hinder this progress, curtailing their futures before they even begin. UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank Group have released the Joint Malnutrition Estimates 2025 Edition, with new estimates on child malnutrition from 2000-2024. The findings reveal a troubling reality: after decades of progress, child malnutrition continues to affect millions of children around the world. The latest estimates reveal:150.2 million children under 5 experienced stunting 42.8 million suffered from wasting, including 12.2 million with severe wasting 35.5 million were affected by overweight Recent trends signal a worrying halt in stunting reduction, continued high levels of wasting, and unchanged rates of overweight among children under 5 years old globally. Less than one-third of countries are on track to meet 2030 stunting targets, while just 17% are progressing toward overweight reduction goals. Asia bears over half of all children with stunting (51%), while Africa accounts for 43%. Most concerning: Africa is the only region where the number of children affected by stunting has actually increased since 2012, rising from 61.7 million to 64.8 million children. Stunting impacts physical growth, brain development and lifetime earning potential. Wasting puts children at immediate risk of death. Without action, we risk an entire generation's potential slipping away.   Access the report Access the data Access the dashboard Access the regional PPT presentations   Data gaps continue to pose significant challenges, making it difficult to accurately assess progress, especially concerning wasting. Addressing child malnutrition demands intensified and sustained efforts across all sectors, guided by robust and timely data collection. We encourage you to share this email with your networks as appropriate.  João Pedro Azevedo Deputy Director Chief Statistician Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring UNICEF  Joan Matji Global Director Child Nutrition and Development Programme Group UNICEF View online version ​