Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in América Latina y el Caribe

América Latina y el Caribe: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 2.49 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
2.49
Change on year
down 1.2%
Rank
123rd
of 156 groups
All-time high
3.86
in 2000
All-time low
2.49
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in América Latina y el Caribe, 2000–2022

012342000201120222000: 3.92001: 3.72002: 3.62003: 3.52004: 3.42005: 3.32006: 3.22007: 3.22008: 3.12009: 32010: 32011: 2.92012: 2.92013: 2.82014: 2.82015: 2.72016: 2.72017: 2.62018: 2.62019: 2.62020: 2.62021: 2.52022: 2.5

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in América Latina y el Caribe stood at 2.49. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 13.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in América Latina y el Caribe peaked at 3.86 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.49, in 2022.

That places América Latina y el Caribe 123rd out of 156 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in América Latina y el Caribe, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in América Latina y el Caribe, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 3.86
2001 3.73 -3.4%
2002 3.6 -3.5%
2003 3.49 -3.0%
2004 3.42 -2.0%
2005 3.34 -2.5%
2006 3.25 -2.7%
2007 3.19 -1.9%
2008 3.1 -2.8%
2009 3.05 -1.6%
2010 2.99 -2.1%
2011 2.91 -2.5%
2012 2.86 -1.6%
2013 2.81 -1.8%
2014 2.76 -1.9%
2015 2.73 -1.2%
2016 2.7 -1.0%
2017 2.65 -1.8%
2018 2.61 -1.3%
2019 2.57 -1.8%
2020 2.55 -0.5%
2021 2.52 -1.5%
2022 2.49 -1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3.4 3.05 3.86 10
2010s 2.76 2.57 2.99 10
2020s 2.52 2.49 2.55 3

Countries ranked near América Latina y el Caribe

  1. 120 Panama 2.5 compare
  2. 121 Russian Federation 2.49 compare
  3. 122 Bulgaria 2.48 compare
  4. 123 Uzbekistan 2.42 compare
  5. 124 Andorra 2.41 compare
  6. 125 Lebanon 2.37 compare
  7. 125 Vanuatu 2.37 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for América Latina y el Caribe

All data for América Latina y el Caribe →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in América Latina y el Caribe?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in América Latina y el Caribe was 2.49 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in América Latina y el Caribe?
The highest recorded value was 3.86 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in América Latina y el Caribe?
The lowest recorded value was 2.49 in 2022.
How does América Latina y el Caribe rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
América Latina y el Caribe ranks 123rd out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in América Latina y el Caribe?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this América Latina y el Caribe 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 América Latina y el Caribe. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/america-latina-y-el-caribe/

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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