Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) was 1.71 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
1.71
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
158th
of 193 countries
All-time high
2.19
in 1990
All-time low
1.4
in 2004
Years of data
33
1990–2022
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in United Kingdom, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in United Kingdom stood at 1.71.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in United Kingdom peaked at 2.19 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.4, in 2004.
That places United Kingdom 158th out of 193 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.19 | — |
| 1991 | 2.08 | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 1.98 | -4.8% |
| 1993 | 1.89 | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 1.8 | -4.8% |
| 1995 | 1.73 | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 1.66 | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 1.59 | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 1.54 | -3.1% |
| 1999 | 1.5 | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 1.47 | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 1.44 | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 1.43 | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 1.41 | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 1.4 | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.41 | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 1.42 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 1.43 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 1.45 | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 1.46 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 1.48 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 1.5 | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 1.52 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 1.54 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 1.57 | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 1.6 | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 1.63 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 1.67 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 1.71 | +2.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1.71 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.89, 90% of the median. (61 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1.71 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.87, 91% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.8 | 1.5 | 2.19 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.42 | 1.4 | 1.47 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.5 | 1.42 | 1.6 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.67 | 1.63 | 1.71 | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 155 Bolivia 1.74 compare
- 156 United States 1.73 compare
- 157 Marshall Islands 1.72 compare
- 159 Montenegro 1.67 compare
- 160 Egypt 1.63 compare
- 161 Slovenia 1.62 compare
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 461 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in United Kingdom?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in United Kingdom was 1.71 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 2.19 in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4 in 2004.
- How does United Kingdom rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- United Kingdom ranks 158th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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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