Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Southern Asia (UNSDG)

Southern Asia (UNSDG): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 12.56 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
12.56
Change on year
down 5.5%
Rank
25th
of 156 groups
All-time high
31.08
in 2000
All-time low
12.56
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Southern Asia (UNSDG), 2000–2022

01020302000201120222000: 31.12001: 30.32002: 29.52003: 28.62004: 27.82005: 26.92006: 26.12007: 25.22008: 24.32009: 23.52010: 22.52011: 21.62012: 20.72013: 19.82014: 18.92015: 18.12016: 17.22017: 16.42018: 15.62019: 14.82020: 142021: 13.32022: 12.6

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Southern Asia (UNSDG) stood at 12.56. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 39.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Southern Asia (UNSDG) peaked at 31.08 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.56, in 2022.

Southern Asia (UNSDG) ranks 25th 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 Southern Asia (UNSDG), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in Southern Asia (UNSDG), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 31.08
2001 30.29 -2.5%
2002 29.5 -2.6%
2003 28.62 -3.0%
2004 27.82 -2.8%
2005 26.95 -3.1%
2006 26.15 -3.0%
2007 25.2 -3.6%
2008 24.33 -3.4%
2009 23.46 -3.6%
2010 22.53 -4.0%
2011 21.59 -4.2%
2012 20.73 -4.0%
2013 19.81 -4.5%
2014 18.89 -4.6%
2015 18.05 -4.4%
2016 17.23 -4.6%
2017 16.4 -4.8%
2018 15.58 -5.0%
2019 14.76 -5.3%
2020 14.02 -5.0%
2021 13.3 -5.2%
2022 12.56 -5.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 27.34 23.46 31.08 10
2010s 18.56 14.76 22.53 10
2020s 13.29 12.56 14.02 3

Countries ranked near Southern Asia (UNSDG)

  1. 22 Djibouti 12.57 compare
  2. 23 Botswana 12.55 compare
  3. 24 Kenya 11.81 compare
  4. 25 Viet Nam 11.75 compare
  5. 26 Gambia 11.53 compare
  6. 27 Uganda 11.48 compare
  7. 28 Burkina Faso 11.26 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for Southern Asia (UNSDG)

All data for Southern Asia (UNSDG) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Southern Asia (UNSDG)?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Southern Asia (UNSDG) was 12.56 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Southern Asia (UNSDG)?
The highest recorded value was 31.08 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Southern Asia (UNSDG)?
The lowest recorded value was 12.56 in 2022.
How does Southern Asia (UNSDG) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
Southern Asia (UNSDG) ranks 25th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Southern Asia (UNSDG)?
Over the last ten years it is down 39.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Southern Asia (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.

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Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Southern Asia (UNSDG). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/southern-asia-unsdg/

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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