Philippines faces alarming rise in child stunting and malnutrition

Stunting has been classified as a 'high public health concern' in the Philippines. The condition now affects one in four children under the age of five. This marks a worrying rise in child malnutrition across the country. The stunting rate among Filipino children below five years old reached 25.3% in 2025. This represents a 1.7% increase from the previous year, the first rise since 2015. The issue is more pronounced in rural areas, where 27.8% of children are stunted compared to 23.2% in urban areas.

Certain regions show particularly high rates. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region has the highest at 36%, followed by Zamboanga Peninsula at 34.6%, Negros Island Region at 30.9%, and Mimaropa at 30.3%. Stunting is linked to poor nutrition, frequent infections, and insufficient psychosocial stimulation.

Malnutrition is not limited to younger children. Among those aged 5 to 10, 18.9% are affected, while 21.4% of adolescents also suffer from malnutrition. Additionally, 18.6% of school-age children are underweight. The latest data confirms a significant increase in stunting rates. This highlights the growing challenge of child malnutrition in the Philippines. Authorities now face the task of addressing the issue in both rural and urban communities.