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

Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 12.21 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
12.21
Change on year
down 5.5%
Rank
29th
of 156 groups
All-time high
30.07
in 2000
All-time low
12.21
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

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

01020302000201120222000: 30.12001: 29.32002: 28.62003: 27.72004: 26.92005: 26.12006: 25.32007: 24.42008: 23.62009: 22.72010: 21.82011: 20.92012: 20.12013: 19.22014: 18.32015: 17.52016: 16.72017: 15.92018: 15.12019: 14.32020: 13.62021: 12.92022: 12.2

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG) stood at 12.21. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of down 5.5% on the previous year and down 39.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG) peaked at 30.07 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.21, in 2022.

Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG) ranks 29th of 156 groups on this measure, 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 and Southern Asia (UNSDG), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 30.07
2001 29.31 -2.5%
2002 28.56 -2.6%
2003 27.71 -3.0%
2004 26.93 -2.8%
2005 26.09 -3.1%
2006 25.32 -3.0%
2007 24.41 -3.6%
2008 23.57 -3.4%
2009 22.73 -3.6%
2010 21.83 -4.0%
2011 20.93 -4.1%
2012 20.1 -4.0%
2013 19.2 -4.4%
2014 18.32 -4.6%
2015 17.51 -4.4%
2016 16.71 -4.5%
2017 15.92 -4.8%
2018 15.13 -5.0%
2019 14.34 -5.2%
2020 13.63 -5.0%
2021 12.92 -5.2%
2022 12.21 -5.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 26.47 22.73 30.07 10
2010s 18 14.34 21.83 10
2020s 12.92 12.21 13.63 3

Countries ranked near Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG)

  1. 26 Gambia 11.53 compare
  2. 27 Uganda 11.48 compare
  3. 28 Burkina Faso 11.26 compare
  4. 29 Cambodia 11.15 compare
  5. 30 Tanzania, United Republic of 10.53 compare
  6. 31 Mozambique 10.03 compare
  7. 32 Nepal 9.93 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG)

All data for Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG)?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG) was 12.21 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG)?
The highest recorded value was 30.07 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG)?
The lowest recorded value was 12.21 in 2022.
How does Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG) ranks 29th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG)?
Over the last ten years it is down 39.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Central and Southern 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 Central and Southern Asia (UNSDG). 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-and-southern-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