Ethiopia vs South-East Asia (WHO region): Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)

Ethiopia
21.8%
in 2024
South-East Asia (WHO region)
12.1%
in 2024
Ethiopia rank
2nd
South-East Asia (WHO region) rank
2nd

Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) over time

  • Ethiopia
  • South-East Asia (WHO region)
1020304050198020022024

How they compare

Ethiopia currently reports 21.8% against 12.1% in South-East Asia (WHO region), a difference of 9.7%.

That makes Ethiopia's figure about 1.8 times South-East Asia (WHO region)'s.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 45 shared years of data; in 1980 it was South-East Asia (WHO region) ahead.

Ethiopia ranks 2nd and South-East Asia (WHO region) ranks 2nd of 198 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, Ethiopia averaged higher in 2 and South-East Asia (WHO region) in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade Ethiopia South-East Asia (WHO region) Difference Ahead
1980s 28.9% 44.5% 15.6% South-East Asia (WHO region)
1990s 28.5% 36.5% 8.0% South-East Asia (WHO region)
2000s 27.4% 28.6% 1.2% South-East Asia (WHO region)
2010s 24.6% 19.5% 5.0% Ethiopia
2020s 22.3% 13.4% 8.9% Ethiopia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate), Ethiopia or South-East Asia (WHO region)?
Ethiopia, at 21.8% against 12.1% in South-East Asia (WHO region) as of 2024.
What is the difference in underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) between Ethiopia and South-East Asia (WHO region)?
9.7%, with Ethiopia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Ethiopia and South-East Asia (WHO region)?
45 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2024.
How do Ethiopia and South-East Asia (WHO region) rank globally for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
Ethiopia ranks 2nd and South-East Asia (WHO region) ranks 2nd of 198 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Ethiopia vs South-East Asia (WHO region): Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate). Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-kg-m2-age-standardized-estimate-percent/ethiopia/south-east-asia-who-region/

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About this data

Indicator
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%)
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