Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 6.45 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
6.45
Change on year
down 6.2%
World rank
60th
of 193 countries
All-time high
27.51
in 1990
All-time low
6.45
in 2022
Years of data
33
1990–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Afghanistan, 1990–2022

510152025301990200620221990: 27.51991: 26.81992: 26.11993: 25.31994: 24.61995: 23.91996: 23.21997: 22.51998: 21.71999: 212000: 20.22001: 19.52002: 18.72003: 182004: 17.22005: 16.52006: 15.82007: 15.12008: 14.42009: 13.72010: 13.12011: 12.42012: 11.82013: 11.12014: 10.52015: 9.92016: 9.42017: 8.82018: 8.32019: 7.82020: 7.32021: 6.92022: 6.5

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Afghanistan stood at 6.45. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.

The figure is down 6.2% on the previous year and down 45.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Afghanistan peaked at 27.51 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 6.45, in 2022.

That places Afghanistan 60th out of 193 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Afghanistan, 1990 to 2022.
Year Value Change
1990 27.51
1991 26.78 -2.7%
1992 26.06 -2.7%
1993 25.34 -2.8%
1994 24.62 -2.8%
1995 23.91 -2.9%
1996 23.19 -3.0%
1997 22.46 -3.1%
1998 21.72 -3.3%
1999 20.98 -3.4%
2000 20.22 -3.6%
2001 19.47 -3.7%
2002 18.72 -3.9%
2003 17.97 -4.0%
2004 17.23 -4.1%
2005 16.5 -4.2%
2006 15.77 -4.4%
2007 15.07 -4.4%
2008 14.4 -4.4%
2009 13.72 -4.7%
2010 13.06 -4.8%
2011 12.4 -5.1%
2012 11.76 -5.2%
2013 11.13 -5.4%
2014 10.52 -5.5%
2015 9.94 -5.5%
2016 9.38 -5.6%
2017 8.84 -5.8%
2018 8.33 -5.8%
2019 7.83 -6.0%
2020 7.34 -6.3%
2021 6.88 -6.3%
2022 6.45 -6.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 24.26 20.98 27.51 10
2000s 16.91 13.72 20.22 10
2010s 10.32 7.83 13.06 10
2020s 6.89 6.45 7.34 3

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 57 Zimbabwe 6.81 compare
  2. 58 Singapore 6.73 compare
  3. 59 Sao Tome and Principe 6.46 compare
  4. 61 Comoros 6.34 compare
  5. 62 Trinidad and Tobago 6.22 compare
  6. 63 Cameroon 6.16 compare
  7. 63 Thailand 6.16 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Afghanistan?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Afghanistan was 6.45 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 27.51 in 1990.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 6.45 in 2022.
How does Afghanistan rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
Afghanistan ranks 60th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is down 45.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
349 places, 9,955 data points, 1990–2022
Last refreshed