Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) was 5.22 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
5.22
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
72nd
of 193 countries
All-time high
9.34
in 1990
All-time low
5.22
in 2022
Years of data
33
1990–2022
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in South Africa, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South Africa is 5.22, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South Africa peaked at 9.34 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 5.22, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 72nd 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9.34 | — |
| 1991 | 9.09 | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 8.84 | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 8.59 | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 8.35 | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 8.14 | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 7.94 | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 7.76 | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 7.6 | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 7.45 | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 7.31 | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 7.19 | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 7.06 | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 6.94 | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 6.81 | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 6.67 | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 6.54 | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 6.41 | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 6.28 | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 6.16 | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 6.05 | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 5.93 | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 5.82 | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 5.72 | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 5.64 | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 5.57 | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 5.49 | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 5.4 | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 5.34 | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 5.29 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 5.26 | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 5.24 | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 5.22 | -0.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.22 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.08, 1.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.22 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.5, 55% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.31 | 7.45 | 9.34 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.74 | 6.16 | 7.31 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.62 | 5.29 | 6.05 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.24 | 5.22 | 5.26 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 69 Morocco 5.39 compare
- 70 Malaysia 5.37 compare
- 71 Cape Verde 5.24 compare
- 73 Antigua and Barbuda 4.64 compare
- 73 Venezuela 4.64 compare
- 75 Dominica 4.56 compare
- 75 Dominican Republic 4.56 compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % 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 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % 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 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South Africa?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South Africa was 5.22 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.34 in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.22 in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- South Africa ranks 72nd out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South 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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