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

Sierra Leone
5.8%
in 2024
South Africa
5.4%
in 2024
Sierra Leone rank
66th
South Africa rank
69th

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

  • Sierra Leone
  • South Africa
5101520198020022024

How they compare

Sierra Leone currently reports 5.8% against 5.4% in South Africa, a difference of 0.4%.

That makes Sierra Leone's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.

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

Sierra Leone ranks 66th and South Africa ranks 69th of 198 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Sierra Leone South Africa Difference Ahead
1980s 18.7% 10.7% 7.9% Sierra Leone
1990s 15.7% 8.4% 7.4% Sierra Leone
2000s 12.2% 6.8% 5.4% Sierra Leone
2010s 8.3% 5.6% 2.7% Sierra Leone
2020s 6.3% 5.3% 0.9% Sierra Leone

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), Sierra Leone or South Africa?
Sierra Leone, at 5.8% 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 Sierra Leone and South Africa?
0.4%, with Sierra Leone ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Sierra Leone and South Africa?
45 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2024.
How do Sierra Leone and South Africa rank globally for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
Sierra Leone ranks 66th 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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Sierra Leone 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/sierra-leone/south-africa/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/compare/underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-kg-m2-crude-estimate-percent/sierra-leone/south-africa/">Sierra Leone vs South Africa: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)</a> — Statizoid

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