Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA)

ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 12.09 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
12.09
Change on year
down 5.5%
Rank
34th
of 156 groups
All-time high
29.75
in 2000
All-time low
12.09
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA), 2000–2022

01020302000201120222000: 29.72001: 292002: 28.32003: 27.42004: 26.62005: 25.82006: 25.12007: 24.22008: 23.32009: 22.52010: 21.62011: 20.72012: 19.92013: 192014: 18.12015: 17.32016: 16.52017: 15.72018: 152019: 14.22020: 13.52021: 12.82022: 12.1

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA) is 12.09, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 39.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA) peaked at 29.75 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.09, in 2022.

ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA) ranks 34th 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 ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 29.75
2001 28.99 -2.5%
2002 28.25 -2.6%
2003 27.41 -3.0%
2004 26.65 -2.8%
2005 25.82 -3.1%
2006 25.06 -3.0%
2007 24.17 -3.6%
2008 23.34 -3.4%
2009 22.51 -3.6%
2010 21.62 -4.0%
2011 20.73 -4.1%
2012 19.91 -3.9%
2013 19.03 -4.4%
2014 18.14 -4.6%
2015 17.33 -4.5%
2016 16.54 -4.6%
2017 15.75 -4.8%
2018 14.97 -5.0%
2019 14.19 -5.2%
2020 13.49 -4.9%
2021 12.79 -5.2%
2022 12.09 -5.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 26.19 22.51 29.75 10
2010s 17.82 14.19 21.62 10
2020s 12.79 12.09 13.49 3

Countries ranked near ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA)

  1. 31 Mozambique 10.03 compare
  2. 32 Nepal 9.93 compare
  3. 33 Philippines 9.87 compare
  4. 34 Angola 9.81 compare
  5. 35 Guinea 9.79 compare
  6. 36 Nigeria 9.61 compare
  7. 37 Guinea-Bissau 9.4 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA)

All data for ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA)?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA) was 12.09 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA)?
The highest recorded value was 29.75 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA)?
The lowest recorded value was 12.09 in 2022.
How does ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA) ranks 34th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA)?
Over the last ten years it is down 39.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this ESCAP_South and South-West Asia (SSWA) 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_South and South-West Asia (SSWA). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/escap-south-and-south-west-asia-sswa/

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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