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

Eastern Africa (African Union): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 16.68 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
16.68
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
4th
of 156 groups
All-time high
19.13
in 2000
All-time low
16.68
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

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

051015202000201120222000: 19.12001: 192002: 18.92003: 18.72004: 18.62005: 18.52006: 18.32007: 18.22008: 182009: 17.92010: 17.72011: 17.62012: 17.42013: 17.32014: 17.22015: 17.12016: 172017: 16.92018: 16.82019: 16.82020: 16.72021: 16.72022: 16.7

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Eastern Africa (African Union) stood at 16.68. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 4.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Eastern Africa (African Union) peaked at 19.13 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.68, in 2022.

That places Eastern Africa (African Union) 4th out of 156 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Eastern Africa (African Union), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Eastern Africa (African Union), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 19.13
2001 19 -0.7%
2002 18.88 -0.6%
2003 18.74 -0.7%
2004 18.62 -0.7%
2005 18.46 -0.8%
2006 18.32 -0.8%
2007 18.16 -0.9%
2008 18.04 -0.6%
2009 17.89 -0.8%
2010 17.74 -0.8%
2011 17.61 -0.8%
2012 17.45 -0.9%
2013 17.3 -0.8%
2014 17.18 -0.7%
2015 17.06 -0.7%
2016 16.95 -0.6%
2017 16.91 -0.3%
2018 16.81 -0.6%
2019 16.77 -0.2%
2020 16.74 -0.1%
2021 16.71 -0.2%
2022 16.68 -0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 18.52 17.89 19.13 10
2010s 17.18 16.77 17.74 10
2020s 16.71 16.68 16.74 3

Countries ranked near Eastern Africa (African Union)

  1. 1 Eritrea 33.4 compare
  2. 2 Ethiopia 24.09 compare
  3. 3 Central African Republic 21.33 compare
  4. 4 Timor-Leste 20.72 compare
  5. 5 Senegal 19.34 compare
  6. 6 Niger 19.03 compare
  7. 7 Somalia 19 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for Eastern Africa (African Union)

All data for Eastern Africa (African Union) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Eastern Africa (African Union)?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Eastern Africa (African Union) was 16.68 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Eastern Africa (African Union)?
The highest recorded value was 19.13 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Eastern Africa (African Union)?
The lowest recorded value was 16.68 in 2022.
How does Eastern Africa (African Union) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
Eastern Africa (African Union) ranks 4th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Eastern Africa (African Union)?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Eastern 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 Eastern Africa (African Union). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/eastern-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