Stunting is a condition of growth failure in children under five years old (toddlers), resulting in a height below the average for their age. This condition occurs due to a long-term lack of nutritional intake.
According to the Indonesian Health Survey (SKI) report from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), the prevalence of stunting among Indonesian toddlers reached 21.5% in 2023, only slightly down from 21.6% in 2022.
"This progress has not yet met the target of the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), which targets a stunting prevalence of 14% in 2024," wrote the Kemenkes in its report.
In 2023, 18 provinces had a stunting prevalence above the national average. Areas with high stunting rates are generally located in Eastern Indonesia.
Central Papua had the highest prevalence of stunting among toddlers, reaching 39.4%.
The following is a list of the 10 provinces with the highest national prevalence of stunting in 2023:
1. Central Papua: 39.4%
2. East Nusa Tenggara (NTT): 37.9%
3. Papua Mountains: 37.3%
4. Southwest Papua: 31%
5. West Sulawesi: 30.3%
6. Southeast Sulawesi: 30%
7. Aceh: 20.4%
8. Papua: 28.6%
9. Maluku: 28.4%
10. South Sulawesi: 27.4%
Meanwhile, the provinces with the lowest stunting prevalence were Bali at 7.2%, followed by Jambi at 13.5% and Riau at 12.6%.
These figures are based on the Kemenkes survey results of approximately 345,000 households with toddlers spread across 38 provinces and 514 regencies/cities in Indonesia in 2023.