Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in China
China: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 4.09 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in China, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
China recorded 4.09 for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in China peaked at 10.75 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 4.09, in 2022.
China ranks 86th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 10.75 | — |
| 1991 | 10.47 | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 10.19 | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 9.89 | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 9.6 | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 9.34 | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 9.09 | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 8.87 | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 8.64 | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 8.43 | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 8.25 | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 8.09 | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 7.95 | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 7.8 | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 7.65 | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 7.5 | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 7.35 | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 7.18 | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 7 | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 6.81 | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 6.61 | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 6.4 | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 6.17 | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 5.94 | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 5.71 | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 5.47 | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 5.24 | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 5.02 | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 4.82 | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 4.62 | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 4.43 | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 4.26 | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 4.09 | -4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.53 | 8.43 | 10.75 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.56 | 6.81 | 8.25 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6 | 4.62 | 6.61 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.26 | 4.09 | 4.43 | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 15-19, male, annual growth rate 1.88 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0323 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate -0.8061 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0256 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in China?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in China was 4.09 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 10.75 in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.09 in 2022.
- How does China rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- China ranks 86th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).