Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in African Union

African Union: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 10.56 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
10.56
Change on year
down 0.3%
Rank
48th
of 156 groups
All-time high
13.23
in 2000
All-time low
10.56
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in African Union, 2000–2022

0510152000201120222000: 13.22001: 13.12002: 12.92003: 12.72004: 12.52005: 12.32006: 12.12007: 122008: 11.82009: 11.62010: 11.52011: 11.32012: 11.22013: 112014: 112015: 10.92016: 10.82017: 10.72018: 10.72019: 10.62020: 10.62021: 10.62022: 10.6

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in African Union is 10.56, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in African Union peaked at 13.23 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 10.56, in 2022.

African Union ranks 48th of 156 groups on this measure, 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 African Union, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in African Union, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 13.23
2001 13.05 -1.3%
2002 12.86 -1.4%
2003 12.69 -1.4%
2004 12.51 -1.4%
2005 12.33 -1.4%
2006 12.14 -1.6%
2007 11.97 -1.4%
2008 11.81 -1.4%
2009 11.64 -1.4%
2010 11.49 -1.3%
2011 11.32 -1.5%
2012 11.17 -1.3%
2013 11.05 -1.1%
2014 10.96 -0.8%
2015 10.86 -0.9%
2016 10.78 -0.7%
2017 10.73 -0.5%
2018 10.67 -0.5%
2019 10.63 -0.4%
2020 10.6 -0.2%
2021 10.59 -0.2%
2022 10.56 -0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 12.42 11.64 13.23 10
2010s 10.97 10.63 11.49 10
2020s 10.58 10.56 10.6 3

Countries ranked near African Union

  1. 45 Pakistan 8.4 compare
  2. 46 Lao People's Democratic Republic 8.11 compare
  3. 47 Zambia 8.05 compare
  4. 48 Benin 7.97 compare
  5. 49 Côte d'Ivoire 7.89 compare
  6. 50 Malawi 7.86 compare
  7. 51 Togo 7.6 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for African Union

All data for African Union →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in African Union?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in African Union was 10.56 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in African Union?
The highest recorded value was 13.23 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in African Union?
The lowest recorded value was 10.56 in 2022.
How does African Union rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
African Union ranks 48th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in African Union?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this African Union 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 African Union. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/african-union/

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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