Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Africa (WHO regions)
Africa (WHO regions): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 11.55 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Africa (WHO regions), 2000–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Africa (WHO regions) stood at 11.55. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Africa (WHO regions) peaked at 14.91 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11.55, in 2022.
That places Africa (WHO regions) 43rd out of 156 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Africa (WHO regions), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.91 | — |
| 2001 | 14.71 | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 14.49 | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 14.28 | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 14.08 | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 13.86 | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 13.64 | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 13.45 | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 13.24 | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 13.03 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 12.84 | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 12.64 | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 12.45 | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 12.29 | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 12.17 | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 12.04 | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 11.93 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 11.85 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 11.76 | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 11.69 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 11.64 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 11.6 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 11.55 | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.97 | 13.03 | 14.91 | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.17 | 11.69 | 12.84 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.6 | 11.55 | 11.64 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Africa (WHO regions)
- 40 Equatorial Guinea 9.01 compare
- 41 Japan 8.93 compare
- 42 Indonesia 8.73 compare
- 43 Rwanda 8.59 compare
- 44 Mauritania 8.54 compare
- 45 Pakistan 8.4 compare
- 46 Lao People's Democratic Republic 8.11 compare
More health data for Africa (WHO regions)
- Child deaths (aged 1-4 years), annual growth rate -2.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Live Births Surviving to Age 1 46,408 (2100)
- Child deaths 912,105 (2024)
- Mortality rate age 1-11 months 20.6 (2024)
- Deaths age 1-59 months 1.70 million (2024)
- Child mortality rate 24.72 (2024)
- Deaths age 1-11 months 788,826 (2024)
- Mortality rate 1-59 months 44.81 (2024)
- Deaths aged 20 to 24 242,744 (2024)
- Deaths aged 10 to 19 392,831 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Africa (WHO regions)?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Africa (WHO regions) was 11.55 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Africa (WHO regions)?
- The highest recorded value was 14.91 in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Africa (WHO regions)?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.55 in 2022.
- How does Africa (WHO regions) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- Africa (WHO regions) ranks 43rd out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Africa (WHO regions)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa (WHO regions) 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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