Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) 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
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 (Crude estimate) in Afghanistan, year by year
| 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% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 6.45 is below the median for low income countries, which is 11.53, 56% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 6.45 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.53, 1.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 14,735 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0804 units per person (2025)
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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