Egypt’s moderate stunting rate signals progress but underscores need for sustained action

Egypt reports about 13% of children affected by stunting, positioning itself mid-range globally, as efforts continue to combat a condition that impacts growth, development, and economic potential amid rising global rates.

Egypt says about 13% of children are affected by stunting, a form of chronic undernutrition that can limit growth and development, according to Dr Jalal Al-Shishini, head of the Health Ministry’s central administration for healthcare quality. He said Egypt’s rate sits in the middle of the global range, well below the levels seen in parts of central Africa and South Asia, where rates can exceed 30%.

Speaking at an event marking World Stunting Awareness Day, Al-Shishini said the condition remains both a public-health and economic burden worldwide. He said the cost of tackling stunting is estimated at about $128bn in health spending, while global prevalence has fallen over the past two decades before rising again in the past four years to about 23.2% of children worldwide.

The World Health Organisation says stunting is defined as low height for age and affects 21.3% of children under five globally. UNICEF gives the same worldwide figure and says the highest rates are in South Asia, at 33.2%, and sub-Saharan Africa, at 32.7%, underscoring the scale of the challenge beyond Egypt.

Al-Shishini said Egypt’s response has been built into wider national policy, including the Sustainable Development Goals, national health and nutrition strategies, and Vision 2030. He said work on the issue began more than a decade ago, with a nutrition situation analysis carried out with UNICEF in 2011, followed by a policy framework in 2014. He added that screening and monitoring have continued, including through the ongoing Egypt Health Survey, which is intended to provide updated data on nutrition needs. He also pointed to a presidential initiative launched in 2019 to address malnutrition as part of a sustained national effort.