Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in South Korea
South Korea: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) was 4.15 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
4.15
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
82nd
of 193 countries
All-time high
5.15
in 1990
All-time low
4.06
in 2005
Years of data
33
1990–2022
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in South Korea, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South Korea stood at 4.15.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South Korea peaked at 5.15 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 4.06, in 2005.
South Korea ranks 82nd of 193 countries on this measure, 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.15 | — |
| 1991 | 5 | -2.9% |
| 1992 | 4.86 | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 4.73 | -2.7% |
| 1994 | 4.62 | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 4.51 | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 4.42 | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 4.35 | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 4.28 | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 4.22 | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 4.18 | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 4.14 | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 4.12 | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 4.09 | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 4.08 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 4.06 | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 4.06 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 4.07 | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 4.08 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 4.09 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 4.1 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 4.1 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 4.1 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 4.1 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 4.1 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 4.1 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 4.1 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 4.11 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 4.12 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 4.14 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 4.14 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 4.15 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 4.15 | +0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 4.15 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.89, 2.2× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 4.15 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.69, 1.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.61 | 4.22 | 5.15 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.1 | 4.06 | 4.18 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.11 | 4.1 | 4.14 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.15 | 4.14 | 4.15 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South Korea?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South Korea was 4.15 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.15 in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.06 in 2005.
- How does South Korea rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- South Korea ranks 82nd out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South 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).