Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa

(SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 12.18 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
12.18
Change on year
down 0.4%
Rank
31st
of 156 groups
All-time high
15.44
in 2000
All-time low
12.18
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

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

0510152000201120222000: 15.42001: 15.32002: 152003: 14.82004: 14.62005: 14.42006: 14.22007: 142008: 13.82009: 13.62010: 13.42011: 13.22012: 132013: 12.92014: 12.82015: 12.62016: 12.52017: 12.52018: 12.42019: 12.32020: 12.32021: 12.22022: 12.2

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa is 12.18, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 6.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 15.44 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.18, in 2022.

(SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st of 156 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

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) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 15.44
2001 15.26 -1.2%
2002 15.04 -1.4%
2003 14.84 -1.4%
2004 14.64 -1.3%
2005 14.43 -1.4%
2006 14.21 -1.5%
2007 14.02 -1.4%
2008 13.81 -1.5%
2009 13.61 -1.5%
2010 13.42 -1.4%
2011 13.22 -1.5%
2012 13.03 -1.4%
2013 12.88 -1.2%
2014 12.76 -0.9%
2015 12.63 -1.0%
2016 12.53 -0.8%
2017 12.46 -0.6%
2018 12.37 -0.7%
2019 12.31 -0.5%
2020 12.26 -0.4%
2021 12.23 -0.3%
2022 12.18 -0.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 14.53 13.61 15.44 10
2010s 12.76 12.31 13.42 10
2020s 12.22 12.18 12.26 3

Countries ranked near (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 28 Burkina Faso 11.26 compare
  2. 29 Cambodia 11.15 compare
  3. 30 Tanzania, United Republic of 10.53 compare
  4. 31 Mozambique 10.03 compare
  5. 32 Nepal 9.93 compare
  6. 33 Philippines 9.87 compare
  7. 34 Angola 9.81 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa was 12.18 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 15.44 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 12.18 in 2022.
How does (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
(SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this (SDGRC) ECA_Sub-Saharan 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) ECA_Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/sdgrc-eca-sub-saharan-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