Methods Data for 533,495 children under 5 years of age (U–5) were analysed in the context of three commonly used indicators of early childhood undernutrition. Results Over the three-decade interval, stunting was reduced by 22.1% in boys and 20.9% in girls, followed by underweight, 19.3% in boys, 17.4% in girls; wasting, in contrast, was reduced to a considerably lesser extent. Demographic, maternal and socioeconomic factors were associated with the incidence.