Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in (SDGRC) Eastern Africa

(SDGRC) Eastern Africa: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 16 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
16
Change on year
down 0.7%
Rank
7th
of 156 groups
All-time high
19.93
in 2000
All-time low
16
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in (SDGRC) Eastern Africa, 2000–2022

051015202000201120222000: 19.92001: 19.82002: 19.62003: 19.42004: 19.32005: 19.12006: 18.92007: 18.62008: 18.42009: 18.22010: 182011: 17.82012: 17.52013: 17.32014: 17.12015: 16.92016: 16.72017: 16.62018: 16.42019: 16.32020: 16.22021: 16.12022: 16

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in (SDGRC) Eastern Africa is 16, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in (SDGRC) Eastern Africa peaked at 19.93 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16, in 2022.

That places (SDGRC) Eastern Africa 7th out of 156 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in (SDGRC) Eastern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in (SDGRC) Eastern Africa, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 19.93
2001 19.78 -0.8%
2002 19.61 -0.8%
2003 19.44 -0.9%
2004 19.26 -0.9%
2005 19.07 -1.0%
2006 18.87 -1.1%
2007 18.65 -1.2%
2008 18.45 -1.1%
2009 18.22 -1.3%
2010 17.99 -1.2%
2011 17.78 -1.2%
2012 17.54 -1.3%
2013 17.32 -1.3%
2014 17.12 -1.2%
2015 16.94 -1.1%
2016 16.74 -1.2%
2017 16.62 -0.7%
2018 16.44 -1.1%
2019 16.32 -0.7%
2020 16.22 -0.6%
2021 16.12 -0.7%
2022 16 -0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 19.13 18.22 19.93 10
2010s 17.08 16.32 17.99 10
2020s 16.11 16 16.22 3

Countries ranked near (SDGRC) Eastern Africa

  1. 4 Timor-Leste 20.72 compare
  2. 5 Senegal 19.34 compare
  3. 6 Niger 19.03 compare
  4. 7 Somalia 19 compare
  5. 8 Madagascar 17.37 compare
  6. 9 South Sudan 17.1 compare
  7. 10 Sudan 16.09 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for (SDGRC) Eastern Africa

All data for (SDGRC) Eastern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in (SDGRC) Eastern Africa?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in (SDGRC) Eastern Africa was 16 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in (SDGRC) Eastern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 19.93 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in (SDGRC) Eastern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 16 in 2022.
How does (SDGRC) Eastern Africa rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
(SDGRC) Eastern Africa ranks 7th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in (SDGRC) Eastern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this (SDGRC) Eastern Africa 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 (SDGRC) Eastern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/sdgrc-eastern-africa/

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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