Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions)
Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 12.16 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions), 2000–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions) recorded 12.16 for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions) peaked at 15.44 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.16, in 2022.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions) 33rd out of 156 groups with data for 2022, putting it 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.44 | — |
| 2001 | 15.25 | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 15.03 | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 14.83 | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 14.63 | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 14.42 | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 14.2 | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 14.01 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 13.8 | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 13.6 | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 13.41 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 13.21 | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 13.02 | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 12.86 | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 12.75 | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 12.62 | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 12.52 | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 12.45 | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 12.36 | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 12.3 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 12.25 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 12.21 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 12.16 | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.52 | 13.6 | 15.44 | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.75 | 12.3 | 13.41 | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.21 | 12.16 | 12.25 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions)
More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions)
- Live Births Surviving to Age 1 48,702 (2100)
- Prevalence of overweight among adults, BMI ≥ 25 29.91 (2022)
- Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 11.44 (2022)
- Percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +1 11.33 (2022)
- Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 3.76 (2022)
- Percentage of thinness among children aged 5-19 years, BMI < -2 9.56 (2022)
- Prevalence of low birth weight among new-borns 13.89 (2020)
- Weight-for-height <-2 SD 5.9 (2024)
- Weight-for-height <-3 SD 1.3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions)?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions) was 12.16 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions)?
- The highest recorded value was 15.44 in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions)?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.16 in 2022.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions) ranks 33rd out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank regions)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (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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