Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Central Africa (African Union)

Central Africa (African Union): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 12.35 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
12.35
Change on year
down 1.9%
Rank
28th
of 156 groups
All-time high
18.94
in 2000
All-time low
12.35
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Central Africa (African Union), 2000–2022

051015202000201120222000: 18.92001: 18.72002: 18.52003: 18.22004: 17.92005: 17.72006: 17.42007: 172008: 16.72009: 16.32010: 15.92011: 15.52012: 15.22013: 14.82014: 14.52015: 14.22016: 13.92017: 13.62018: 13.32019: 13.12020: 12.82021: 12.62022: 12.3

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

Central Africa (African Union) recorded 12.35 for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and down 18.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Central Africa (African Union) peaked at 18.94 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.35, in 2022.

That places Central Africa (African Union) 28th out of 156 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the top 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 Central Africa (African Union), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Central Africa (African Union), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 18.94
2001 18.73 -1.1%
2002 18.47 -1.4%
2003 18.2 -1.4%
2004 17.93 -1.5%
2005 17.67 -1.5%
2006 17.36 -1.8%
2007 17.03 -1.9%
2008 16.66 -2.2%
2009 16.27 -2.3%
2010 15.89 -2.4%
2011 15.53 -2.2%
2012 15.16 -2.4%
2013 14.83 -2.2%
2014 14.48 -2.3%
2015 14.19 -2.0%
2016 13.89 -2.1%
2017 13.62 -1.9%
2018 13.33 -2.1%
2019 13.06 -2.0%
2020 12.83 -1.8%
2021 12.59 -1.9%
2022 12.35 -1.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 17.73 16.27 18.94 10
2010s 14.4 13.06 15.89 10
2020s 12.59 12.35 12.83 3

Countries ranked near Central Africa (African Union)

  1. 25 Viet Nam 11.75 compare
  2. 26 Gambia 11.53 compare
  3. 27 Uganda 11.48 compare
  4. 28 Burkina Faso 11.26 compare
  5. 29 Cambodia 11.15 compare
  6. 30 Tanzania, United Republic of 10.53 compare
  7. 31 Mozambique 10.03 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for Central Africa (African Union)

All data for Central Africa (African Union) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Central Africa (African Union)?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Central Africa (African Union) was 12.35 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Central Africa (African Union)?
The highest recorded value was 18.94 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Central Africa (African Union)?
The lowest recorded value was 12.35 in 2022.
How does Central Africa (African Union) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
Central Africa (African Union) ranks 28th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Central Africa (African Union)?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Central Africa (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 Central Africa (African Union). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/central-africa-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