Korea vs South Africa: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)

Korea
5.5%
in 2024
South Africa
5.3%
in 2024
Korea rank
70th
South Africa rank
71st

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

  • Korea
  • South Africa
02.557.51012.5198020022024

How they compare

Korea currently reports 5.5% against 5.3% in South Africa, a difference of 0.2%.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 45 shared years of data; in 1980 it was South Africa ahead.

Korea ranks 70th and South Africa ranks 71st of 198 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Korea South Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 6.3% 10.5% 4.2% South Africa
1990s 4.7% 8.1% 3.4% South Africa
2000s 4.3% 6.3% 2.0% South Africa
2010s 4.7% 5.4% 0.7% South Africa
2020s 5.3% 5.3% 0.0% South Africa

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), Korea or South Africa?
Korea, at 5.5% against 5.3% in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) between Korea and South Africa?
0.2%, with Korea ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Korea and South Africa?
45 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2024.
How do Korea and South Africa rank globally for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
Korea ranks 70th and South Africa ranks 71st 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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Korea vs South Africa: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate). Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-kg-m2-age-standardized-estimate-percent/korea-rep/south-africa/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/compare/underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-kg-m2-age-standardized-estimate-percent/korea-rep/south-africa/">Korea vs South Africa: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)</a> — Statizoid

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