Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in SDG regions - Global (UNSDG)

SDG regions - Global (UNSDG): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 7.1 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
7.1
Change on year
down 3.1%
Rank
76th
of 156 groups
All-time high
12.73
in 2000
All-time low
7.1
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in SDG regions - Global (UNSDG), 2000–2022

0510152000201120222000: 12.72001: 12.52002: 12.32003: 12.12004: 11.82005: 11.62006: 11.32007: 11.12008: 10.82009: 10.52010: 10.22011: 102012: 9.72013: 9.42014: 9.12015: 8.82016: 8.52017: 8.32018: 82019: 7.82020: 7.52021: 7.32022: 7.1

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in SDG regions - Global (UNSDG) is 7.1, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 26.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in SDG regions - Global (UNSDG) peaked at 12.73 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 7.1, in 2022.

SDG regions - Global (UNSDG) ranks 76th 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 SDG regions - Global (UNSDG), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in SDG regions - Global (UNSDG), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 12.73
2001 12.51 -1.7%
2002 12.28 -1.8%
2003 12.05 -1.9%
2004 11.82 -1.9%
2005 11.58 -2.0%
2006 11.33 -2.2%
2007 11.07 -2.3%
2008 10.8 -2.4%
2009 10.53 -2.5%
2010 10.24 -2.7%
2011 9.95 -2.8%
2012 9.68 -2.7%
2013 9.37 -3.2%
2014 9.09 -3.1%
2015 8.81 -3.0%
2016 8.54 -3.2%
2017 8.27 -3.1%
2018 8.02 -3.0%
2019 7.77 -3.2%
2020 7.54 -2.9%
2021 7.33 -2.7%
2022 7.1 -3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11.67 10.53 12.73 10
2010s 8.97 7.77 10.24 10
2020s 7.33 7.1 7.54 3

Countries ranked near SDG regions - Global (UNSDG)

  1. 73 Antigua and Barbuda 4.64 compare
  2. 73 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 4.64 compare
  3. 75 Dominica 4.56 compare
  4. 75 Dominican Republic 4.56 compare
  5. 77 Oman 4.47 compare
  6. 78 Libya 4.42 compare
  7. 79 Algeria 4.25 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for SDG regions - Global (UNSDG)

All data for SDG regions - Global (UNSDG) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in SDG regions - Global (UNSDG)?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in SDG regions - Global (UNSDG) was 7.1 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in SDG regions - Global (UNSDG)?
The highest recorded value was 12.73 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in SDG regions - Global (UNSDG)?
The lowest recorded value was 7.1 in 2022.
How does SDG regions - Global (UNSDG) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
SDG regions - Global (UNSDG) ranks 76th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in SDG regions - Global (UNSDG)?
Over the last ten years it is down 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this SDG regions - Global (UNSDG) 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 SDG regions - Global (UNSDG). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/sdg-regions-global-unsdg/

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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