Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)

Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 4.84 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
4.84
Change on year
down 0.1%
Rank
96th
of 156 groups
All-time high
6.42
in 2000
All-time low
4.84
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions), 2000–2022

02462000201120222000: 6.42001: 6.32002: 6.22003: 6.12004: 62005: 5.92006: 5.82007: 5.72008: 5.72009: 5.62010: 5.52011: 5.42012: 5.32013: 5.22014: 5.12015: 5.12016: 52017: 52018: 52019: 4.92020: 4.92021: 4.82022: 4.8

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) is 4.84, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) peaked at 6.42 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.84, in 2022.

Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) ranks 96th 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 Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 6.42
2001 6.31 -1.6%
2002 6.21 -1.7%
2003 6.11 -1.6%
2004 6 -1.8%
2005 5.92 -1.3%
2006 5.81 -1.8%
2007 5.72 -1.5%
2008 5.66 -1.1%
2009 5.58 -1.4%
2010 5.5 -1.4%
2011 5.4 -1.9%
2012 5.31 -1.6%
2013 5.21 -1.9%
2014 5.14 -1.3%
2015 5.06 -1.6%
2016 5.02 -0.9%
2017 4.97 -0.9%
2018 4.95 -0.3%
2019 4.92 -0.7%
2020 4.88 -0.7%
2021 4.85 -0.7%
2022 4.84 -0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 5.97 5.58 6.42 10
2010s 5.15 4.92 5.5 10
2020s 4.86 4.84 4.88 3

Countries ranked near Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)

  1. 93 Saint Lucia 3.7 compare
  2. 94 Syria 3.58 compare
  3. 95 Jordan 3.53 compare
  4. 96 Israel 3.52 compare
  5. 97 Kyrgyzstan 3.49 compare
  6. 98 Iran 3.47 compare
  7. 99 Bahamas 3.41 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)

All data for Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) was 4.84 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
The highest recorded value was 6.42 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
The lowest recorded value was 4.84 in 2022.
How does Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) ranks 96th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) 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 Middle East and North Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/middle-east-and-north-africa-unicef-prog-regions/

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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