Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) was 7.16 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
7.16
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
54th
of 193 countries
All-time high
17.29
in 1990
All-time low
7.16
in 2022
Years of data
33
1990–2022
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Sierra Leone, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Sierra Leone is 7.16, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Sierra Leone peaked at 17.29 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 7.16, in 2022.
Sierra Leone ranks 54th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 17.29 | — |
| 1991 | 17.01 | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 16.73 | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 16.45 | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 16.16 | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 15.87 | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 15.56 | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 15.25 | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 14.92 | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 14.58 | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 14.23 | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 13.88 | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 13.52 | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 13.14 | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 12.76 | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 12.37 | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 11.98 | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 11.59 | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 11.2 | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 10.81 | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 10.44 | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 10.07 | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 9.72 | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 9.39 | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 9.08 | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 8.8 | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 8.53 | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 8.27 | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 8.03 | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 7.79 | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 7.57 | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 7.36 | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 7.16 | -2.7% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 7.16 is below the median for low income countries, which is 11.53, 62% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 7.16 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.5, 75% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.98 | 14.58 | 17.29 | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.55 | 10.81 | 14.23 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.01 | 7.79 | 10.44 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.36 | 7.16 | 7.57 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,209 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6447 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0663 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.6611 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0676 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Sierra Leone?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Sierra Leone was 7.16 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 17.29 in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.16 in 2022.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- Sierra Leone ranks 54th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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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