Malaysia vs South Africa: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)

Malaysia
5.5%
in 2024
South Africa
5.4%
in 2024
Malaysia rank
68th
South Africa rank
69th

Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) over time

  • Malaysia
  • South Africa
5101520198020022024

How they compare

Malaysia currently reports 5.5% against 5.4% in South Africa, a difference of 0.1%.

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

Malaysia ranks 68th and South Africa ranks 69th of 198 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Malaysia South Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 18.1% 10.7% 7.3% Malaysia
1990s 13.0% 8.4% 4.6% Malaysia
2000s 9.6% 6.8% 2.8% Malaysia
2010s 7.1% 5.6% 1.5% Malaysia
2020s 5.7% 5.3% 0.4% Malaysia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate), Malaysia or South Africa?
Malaysia, at 5.5% against 5.4% in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) between Malaysia and South Africa?
0.1%, with Malaysia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and South Africa?
45 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2024.
How do Malaysia and South Africa rank globally for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
Malaysia ranks 68th and South Africa ranks 69th 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 (crude estimate) (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Malaysia vs South Africa: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate). Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-kg-m2-crude-estimate-percent/malaysia/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude 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