Cape Verde Stunting & Child Malnutrition Rates Rise
Childhood health indicators in Cape Verde have taken a troubling turn, as new data reveals that acute malnutrition and stunting among children under five have worsened since 2015. Despite international efforts to eliminate hunger, the archipelago is struggling to meet key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A Decade of Stagnation
According to the latest report from Cape Verde’s National Institute of Statistics (INE), the country has made “no progress” in reducing child stunting rates over the last 15 years. The prevalence of stunting—a condition resulting from chronic malnutrition that permanently affects a child’s growth and development—rose to 12.6% in 2024, up from 11.8% in 2015.
The findings, released as part of the seventh statistical report on the SDGs, highlight a significant setback for a nation working toward the UN’s 2030 deadline for “Zero Hunger.”
Fluctuating Malnutrition Rates
The report details a volatile decade for acute malnutrition. Among all children under five, rates jumped from 3% in 2015 to nearly 6% in 2019, before dipping back to 4% in 2024. However, the situation is more dire for the subgroup of children aged two to five.
In this specific age bracket, the INE noted a “clear degradation” of health indicators. Malnutrition in these older toddlers climbed from 2.7% in 2015 to 4.6% in 2024, having spiked as high as 8.1% during the peak of the 2022 food security crisis.
The Poverty Paradox
The rise in child malnutrition presents a stark contrast to the country’s progress in other economic areas. The same report indicates that Cape Verde has successfully reduced the proportion of its population living below the international poverty line, which dropped from 4.6% in 2015 to 2.3% in 2022.
While fewer people are living in extreme poverty, the benefits have evidently not reached the plates of the nation’s youngest citizens. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals, established by the UN, prioritize eradicating poverty and ensuring good health for all by 2030. For Cape Verde, the latest data suggests that achieving these milestones for the next generation will require an urgent pivot in nutritional policy.
Image: Pexels – Kindel Media
