Africa (WHO region) vs India: Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard

Africa (WHO region)
7.2%
in 2024
India
19.3%
in 2024
Africa (WHO region) rank
6th
India rank
4th

Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard over time

  • Africa (WHO region)
  • India
10203040198020022024

How they compare

India currently reports 19.3% against 7.2% in Africa (WHO region), a difference of 12.1%.

That makes India's figure about 2.7 times Africa (WHO region)'s.

Across all 45 years both countries report, India has been ahead every year.

Africa (WHO region) ranks 6th and India ranks 4th of 11 groups.

India has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Africa (WHO region) India Difference Ahead
1980s 10.6% 37.2% 26.5% India
1990s 9.8% 33.4% 23.7% India
2000s 8.5% 28.2% 19.7% India
2010s 7.6% 23.7% 16.1% India
2020s 7.3% 20.2% 12.9% India

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard, Africa (WHO region) or India?
India, at 19.3% against 7.2% in Africa (WHO region) as of 2024.
What is the difference in thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard between Africa (WHO region) and India?
12.1%, with India ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Africa (WHO region) and India?
45 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2024.
How do Africa (WHO region) and India rank globally for thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard?
Africa (WHO region) ranks 6th and India ranks 4th of 11 groups.
Where does this data come from?
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard deviations below the median (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Africa (WHO region) vs India: Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/thinness-among-children-and-adolescents-bmi-for-age-2-standard-deviations-below-the/africa-who-region/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard deviations below the median (%)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
211 places, 9,495 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed