Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Ghana
Ghana: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) was 6.08 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Ghana, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Ghana stood at 6.08. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 23.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Ghana peaked at 14.76 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 6.08, in 2022.
That places Ghana 65th out of 193 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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 (Crude estimate) in Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 14.76 | — |
| 1991 | 14.5 | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 14.24 | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 13.98 | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 13.72 | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 13.45 | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 13.18 | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 12.9 | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 12.61 | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 12.31 | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 12 | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 11.68 | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 11.35 | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 11.01 | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 10.66 | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 10.31 | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 9.95 | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 9.6 | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 9.25 | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 8.91 | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 8.59 | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 8.27 | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 7.98 | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 7.71 | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 7.47 | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 7.25 | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 7.04 | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 6.85 | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 6.67 | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 6.51 | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 6.36 | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 6.21 | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 6.08 | -2.1% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 6.08 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.21, 84% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 6.08 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.5, 64% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.57 | 12.31 | 14.76 | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.47 | 8.91 | 12 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.43 | 6.51 | 8.59 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.22 | 6.08 | 6.36 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 8,361 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5623 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.06 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0619 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Ghana?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Ghana was 6.08 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 14.76 in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.08 in 2022.
- How does Ghana rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- Ghana ranks 65th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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
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