Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Asia (UNSDG)

Asia (UNSDG): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 8.37 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
8.37
Change on year
down 4.6%
Rank
71st
of 156 groups
All-time high
17.54
in 2000
All-time low
8.37
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Asia (UNSDG), 2000–2022

051015202000201120222000: 17.52001: 17.22002: 16.82003: 16.52004: 16.12005: 15.72006: 15.32007: 14.92008: 14.42009: 142010: 13.52011: 13.12012: 12.62013: 12.22014: 11.72015: 11.32016: 10.82017: 10.42018: 9.92019: 9.52020: 9.12021: 8.82022: 8.4

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Asia (UNSDG) stood at 8.37. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of down 4.6% on the previous year and down 33.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Asia (UNSDG) peaked at 17.54 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 8.37, in 2022.

That places Asia (UNSDG) 71st 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 Asia (UNSDG), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Asia (UNSDG), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 17.54
2001 17.18 -2.0%
2002 16.82 -2.1%
2003 16.45 -2.2%
2004 16.07 -2.3%
2005 15.69 -2.4%
2006 15.29 -2.6%
2007 14.86 -2.8%
2008 14.43 -2.9%
2009 13.99 -3.0%
2010 13.53 -3.3%
2011 13.07 -3.4%
2012 12.65 -3.2%
2013 12.15 -3.9%
2014 11.69 -3.8%
2015 11.25 -3.7%
2016 10.79 -4.1%
2017 10.36 -4.0%
2018 9.94 -4.1%
2019 9.52 -4.2%
2020 9.13 -4.1%
2021 8.77 -3.9%
2022 8.37 -4.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.83 13.99 17.54 10
2010s 11.5 9.52 13.53 10
2020s 8.76 8.37 9.13 3

Countries ranked near Asia (UNSDG)

  1. 68 Mauritius 5.89 compare
  2. 69 Morocco 5.39 compare
  3. 70 Malaysia 5.37 compare
  4. 71 Cape Verde 5.24 compare
  5. 72 South Africa 5.22 compare
  6. 73 Antigua and Barbuda 4.64 compare
  7. 73 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 4.64 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for Asia (UNSDG)

All data for Asia (UNSDG) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Asia (UNSDG)?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Asia (UNSDG) was 8.37 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Asia (UNSDG)?
The highest recorded value was 17.54 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Asia (UNSDG)?
The lowest recorded value was 8.37 in 2022.
How does Asia (UNSDG) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
Asia (UNSDG) ranks 71st out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Asia (UNSDG)?
Over the last ten years it is down 33.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Asia (UNSDG) 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 Asia (UNSDG). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/asia-unsdg/

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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