Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in South Asia (World Bank regions)

South Asia (World Bank regions): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 13.69 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
13.69
Change on year
down 5.5%
Rank
13th
of 156 groups
All-time high
33.56
in 2000
All-time low
13.69
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in South Asia (World Bank regions), 2000–2022

01020302000201120222000: 33.62001: 32.72002: 31.92003: 312004: 30.22005: 29.32006: 28.52007: 27.42008: 26.52009: 25.62010: 24.62011: 23.62012: 22.62013: 21.62014: 20.62015: 19.72016: 18.82017: 17.92018: 172019: 16.12020: 15.32021: 14.52022: 13.7

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South Asia (World Bank regions) stood at 13.69. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 39.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South Asia (World Bank regions) peaked at 33.56 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 13.69, in 2022.

South Asia (World Bank regions) ranks 13th of 156 groups on this measure, 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 South Asia (World Bank regions), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in South Asia (World Bank regions), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 33.56
2001 32.75 -2.4%
2002 31.93 -2.5%
2003 31.02 -2.9%
2004 30.19 -2.7%
2005 29.28 -3.0%
2006 28.45 -2.8%
2007 27.44 -3.5%
2008 26.52 -3.4%
2009 25.59 -3.5%
2010 24.58 -3.9%
2011 23.56 -4.1%
2012 22.63 -4.0%
2013 21.62 -4.5%
2014 20.61 -4.7%
2015 19.7 -4.4%
2016 18.79 -4.6%
2017 17.89 -4.8%
2018 17 -5.0%
2019 16.1 -5.3%
2020 15.3 -5.0%
2021 14.49 -5.2%
2022 13.69 -5.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 29.67 25.59 33.56 10
2010s 20.25 16.1 24.58 10
2020s 14.49 13.69 15.3 3

Countries ranked near South Asia (World Bank regions)

  1. 10 Sudan 16.09 compare
  2. 11 Chad 16 compare
  3. 12 Burundi 15.91 compare
  4. 13 India 13.86 compare
  5. 14 Myanmar 13.82 compare
  6. 15 Congo 13.63 compare
  7. 16 Yemen 13.58 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for South Asia (World Bank regions)

All data for South Asia (World Bank regions) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South Asia (World Bank regions)?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in South Asia (World Bank regions) was 13.69 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in South Asia (World Bank regions)?
The highest recorded value was 33.56 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in South Asia (World Bank regions)?
The lowest recorded value was 13.69 in 2022.
How does South Asia (World Bank regions) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
South Asia (World Bank regions) ranks 13th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in South Asia (World Bank regions)?
Over the last ten years it is down 39.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Asia (World Bank regions) 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 South Asia (World Bank regions). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/south-asia-world-bank-regions/

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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