Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 12.73 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Bangladesh, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Bangladesh is 12.73, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 6.3% on the previous year and down 44.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Bangladesh peaked at 43.81 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 12.73, in 2022.
That places Bangladesh 21st out of 193 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 43.81 | — |
| 1991 | 43.23 | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 42.64 | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 42.03 | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 41.41 | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 40.76 | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 40.06 | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 39.33 | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 38.55 | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 37.71 | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 36.82 | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 35.87 | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 34.88 | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 33.84 | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 32.75 | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 31.62 | -3.5% |
| 2006 | 30.47 | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 29.28 | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 28.06 | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 26.82 | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 25.56 | -4.7% |
| 2011 | 24.3 | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 23.05 | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 21.83 | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 20.65 | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 19.51 | -5.5% |
| 2016 | 18.42 | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 17.37 | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 16.37 | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 15.4 | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 14.47 | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 13.58 | -6.2% |
| 2022 | 12.73 | -6.3% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 12.73 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.21, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 12.73 is above the median for South Asia, which is 11.33, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 40.95 | 37.71 | 43.81 | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.04 | 26.82 | 36.82 | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.25 | 15.4 | 25.56 | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.59 | 12.73 | 14.47 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More health data for Bangladesh
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.36 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,153 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,062 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 35 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.8772 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0468 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.7714 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Bangladesh?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Bangladesh was 12.73 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 43.81 in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.73 in 2022.
- How does Bangladesh rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- Bangladesh ranks 21st out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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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