Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in South America (UNSDG)
South America (UNSDG): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 2.37 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in South America (UNSDG), 2000–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South America (UNSDG) is 2.37, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South America (UNSDG) peaked at 3.83 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.37, in 2022.
That places South America (UNSDG) 128th out of 156 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom 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 South America (UNSDG), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.83 | — |
| 2001 | 3.73 | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 3.6 | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 3.5 | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 3.42 | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 3.35 | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 3.27 | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 3.2 | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 3.11 | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 3.06 | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 2.98 | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 2.91 | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 2.85 | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 2.79 | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 2.72 | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 2.68 | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 2.67 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 2.6 | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 2.55 | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 2.49 | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 2.47 | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 2.42 | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 2.37 | -1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.41 | 3.06 | 3.83 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.73 | 2.49 | 2.98 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.42 | 2.37 | 2.47 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South America (UNSDG)
More health data for South America (UNSDG)
- Live Births Surviving to Age 1 3,058 (2100)
- Prevalence of overweight among adults, BMI ≥ 25 64.04 (2022)
- Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 28.56 (2022)
- Percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +1 36.83 (2022)
- Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 15.87 (2022)
- Percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, BMI < -2 2.32 (2022)
- Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns 8.85 (2020)
- Weight-for-height <-2 SD 1.3 (2024)
- Weight-for-height <-3 SD 0.2 (2024)
- Universal health coverage index for reproductive, maternal, newborn 78.7 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South America (UNSDG)?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South America (UNSDG) was 2.37 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in South America (UNSDG)?
- The highest recorded value was 3.83 in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in South America (UNSDG)?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.37 in 2022.
- How does South America (UNSDG) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- South America (UNSDG) ranks 128th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in South America (UNSDG)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South America (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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).