Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) was 12.84 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 12.84 for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.9% on the previous year and down 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 23.42 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 12.84, in 2022.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 20th out of 193 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 23.42 | — |
| 1991 | 23.32 | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 23.22 | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 23.1 | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 22.98 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 22.84 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 22.69 | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 22.53 | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 22.36 | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 22.16 | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 21.94 | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 21.71 | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 21.44 | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 21.15 | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 20.83 | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 20.47 | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 20.07 | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 19.65 | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 19.2 | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 18.72 | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 18.23 | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 17.74 | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 17.24 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 16.74 | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 16.25 | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 15.77 | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 15.3 | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 14.85 | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 14.42 | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 14.01 | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 13.61 | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 13.22 | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 12.84 | -2.9% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 12.84 is above the median for low income countries, which is 11.53, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 12.84 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.5, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.86 | 22.16 | 23.42 | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.52 | 18.72 | 21.94 | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.05 | 14.01 | 18.23 | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.22 | 12.84 | 13.61 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More health data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.56 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 133,650 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 390 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 2.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0895 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 2.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0905 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Democratic Republic of Congo was 12.84 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 23.42 in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.84 in 2022.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 20th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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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