Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in North Korea
North Korea: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) was 9.34 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
9.34
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
38th
of 193 countries
All-time high
20.87
in 1990
All-time low
9.34
in 2022
Years of data
33
1990–2022
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in North Korea, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in North Korea stood at 9.34. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.3% on the previous year and down 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in North Korea peaked at 20.87 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 9.34, in 2022.
That places North Korea 38th out of 193 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
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 North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 20.87 | — |
| 1991 | 20.52 | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 20.16 | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 19.8 | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 19.45 | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 19.1 | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 18.74 | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 18.37 | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 18.01 | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 17.66 | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 17.32 | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 16.97 | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 16.62 | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 16.26 | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 15.9 | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 15.54 | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 15.16 | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 14.78 | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 14.4 | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 14.01 | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 13.63 | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 13.24 | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 12.85 | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 12.47 | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 12.09 | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 11.72 | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 11.36 | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 11 | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 10.65 | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 10.31 | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 9.98 | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 9.66 | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 9.34 | -3.3% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 9.34 is below the median for low income countries, which is 11.53, 81% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 9.34 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.69, 2.5× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.27 | 17.66 | 20.87 | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.7 | 14.01 | 17.32 | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.93 | 10.31 | 13.63 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.66 | 9.34 | 9.98 | 3 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More health data for North Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 767 (2100)
- Population, female, per capita 0.5049 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, annual growth rate 3.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, female, annual growth rate 0.1972 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, per capita 0.1271 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, total, annual growth rate 2.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita 0.0541 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.073 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in North Korea?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in North Korea was 9.34 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 20.87 in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.34 in 2022.
- How does North Korea rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- North Korea ranks 38th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Korea 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
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).