Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Nepal
Nepal: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) was 9.93 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Nepal, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Nepal is 9.93, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.3% on the previous year and down 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Nepal peaked at 30.97 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 9.93, in 2022.
That places Nepal 32nd 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 30.97 | — |
| 1991 | 30.31 | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 29.66 | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 29.01 | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 28.37 | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 27.72 | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 27.08 | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 26.43 | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 25.77 | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 25.1 | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 24.43 | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 23.74 | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 23.05 | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 22.35 | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 21.64 | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 20.95 | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 20.26 | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 19.57 | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 18.88 | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 18.18 | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 17.47 | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 16.77 | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 16.08 | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 15.39 | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 14.73 | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 14.09 | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 13.47 | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 12.86 | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 12.25 | -4.7% |
| 2019 | 11.66 | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 11.07 | -5.1% |
| 2021 | 10.49 | -5.2% |
| 2022 | 9.93 | -5.3% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 9.93 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.21, 1.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 9.93 is below the median for South Asia, which is 11.33, 88% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.04 | 25.1 | 30.97 | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.3 | 18.18 | 24.43 | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.48 | 11.66 | 17.47 | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.5 | 9.93 | 11.07 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More health data for Nepal
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8518 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 955 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.17 % 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 0.0451 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.11 % 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 0.0467 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Nepal?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Nepal was 9.93 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 30.97 in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.93 in 2022.
- How does Nepal rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- Nepal ranks 32nd out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nepal 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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