Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in ESCAP_All countries

ESCAP_All countries: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 8.23 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
8.23
Change on year
down 4.5%
Rank
72nd
of 156 groups
All-time high
17
in 2000
All-time low
8.23
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in ESCAP_All countries, 2000–2022

0510152000201120222000: 172001: 16.72002: 16.32003: 162004: 15.62005: 15.32006: 14.92007: 14.52008: 14.12009: 13.72010: 13.32011: 12.82012: 12.42013: 11.92014: 11.52015: 11.12016: 10.62017: 10.22018: 9.82019: 9.42020: 92021: 8.62022: 8.2

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in ESCAP_All countries stood at 8.23. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of down 4.5% on the previous year and down 33.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in ESCAP_All countries peaked at 17 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 8.23, in 2022.

ESCAP_All countries ranks 72nd of 156 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in ESCAP_All countries, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in ESCAP_All countries, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 17
2001 16.67 -1.9%
2002 16.34 -2.0%
2003 16 -2.1%
2004 15.65 -2.2%
2005 15.29 -2.3%
2006 14.92 -2.5%
2007 14.52 -2.7%
2008 14.11 -2.8%
2009 13.7 -2.9%
2010 13.26 -3.2%
2011 12.82 -3.3%
2012 12.41 -3.2%
2013 11.93 -3.9%
2014 11.48 -3.8%
2015 11.06 -3.7%
2016 10.61 -4.0%
2017 10.18 -4.0%
2018 9.77 -4.1%
2019 9.36 -4.2%
2020 8.97 -4.1%
2021 8.62 -3.9%
2022 8.23 -4.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.42 13.7 17 10
2010s 11.29 9.36 13.26 10
2020s 8.61 8.23 8.97 3

Countries ranked near ESCAP_All countries

  1. 69 Morocco 5.39 compare
  2. 70 Malaysia 5.37 compare
  3. 71 Cape Verde 5.24 compare
  4. 72 South Africa 5.22 compare
  5. 73 Antigua and Barbuda 4.64 compare
  6. 73 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 4.64 compare
  7. 75 Dominica 4.56 compare
  8. 75 Dominican Republic 4.56 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for ESCAP_All countries

All data for ESCAP_All countries →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in ESCAP_All countries?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in ESCAP_All countries was 8.23 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in ESCAP_All countries?
The highest recorded value was 17 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in ESCAP_All countries?
The lowest recorded value was 8.23 in 2022.
How does ESCAP_All countries rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
ESCAP_All countries ranks 72nd out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in ESCAP_All countries?
Over the last ten years it is down 33.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this ESCAP_All countries 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 ESCAP_All countries. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/escap-all-countries/

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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