Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Canada

Canada: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 1.75 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
1.75
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
153rd
of 193 countries
All-time high
2.45
in 1990
All-time low
1.66
in 2009
Years of data
33
1990–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Canada, 1990–2022

00.511.522.51990200620221990: 2.51991: 2.41992: 2.31993: 2.21994: 2.11995: 21996: 21997: 1.91998: 1.91999: 1.92000: 1.82001: 1.82002: 1.82003: 1.72004: 1.72005: 1.72006: 1.72007: 1.72008: 1.72009: 1.72010: 1.72011: 1.72012: 1.72013: 1.72014: 1.72015: 1.72016: 1.72017: 1.72018: 1.72019: 1.72020: 1.72021: 1.72022: 1.8

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Canada is 1.75, measured in 2022.

That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Canada peaked at 2.45 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.66, in 2009.

That places Canada 153rd out of 193 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom 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 Canada, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Canada, 1990 to 2022.
Year Value Change
1990 2.45
1991 2.36 -3.7%
1992 2.27 -3.8%
1993 2.19 -3.5%
1994 2.12 -3.2%
1995 2.05 -3.3%
1996 1.99 -2.9%
1997 1.93 -3.0%
1998 1.89 -2.1%
1999 1.85 -2.1%
2000 1.81 -2.2%
2001 1.78 -1.7%
2002 1.76 -1.1%
2003 1.74 -1.1%
2004 1.72 -1.1%
2005 1.7 -1.2%
2006 1.69 -0.6%
2007 1.68 -0.6%
2008 1.67 -0.6%
2009 1.66 -0.6%
2010 1.66 +0.0%
2011 1.66 +0.0%
2012 1.66 +0.0%
2013 1.66 +0.0%
2014 1.66 +0.0%
2015 1.66 +0.0%
2016 1.66 +0.0%
2017 1.67 +0.6%
2018 1.69 +1.2%
2019 1.7 +0.6%
2020 1.72 +1.2%
2021 1.73 +0.6%
2022 1.75 +1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 2.11 1.85 2.45 10
2000s 1.72 1.66 1.81 10
2010s 1.67 1.66 1.7 10
2020s 1.73 1.72 1.75 3

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 150 Hungary 1.78 compare
  2. 151 Belarus 1.77 compare
  3. 152 Qatar 1.76 compare
  4. 153 Iceland 1.75 compare
  5. 155 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 1.74 compare
  6. 156 United States of America 1.73 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Canada?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Canada was 1.75 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Canada?
The highest recorded value was 2.45 in 1990.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 1.66 in 2009.
How does Canada rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
Canada ranks 153rd out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Canada 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 Canada. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/canada/

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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