Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in United States
United States: Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) was 1.73 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
1.73
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
156th
of 193 countries
All-time high
2.27
in 1990
All-time low
1.62
in 2007
Years of data
33
1990–2022
Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in United States, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in United States is 1.73, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in United States peaked at 2.27 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.62, in 2007.
That places United States 156th 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 States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.27 | — |
| 1991 | 2.17 | -4.4% |
| 1992 | 2.07 | -4.6% |
| 1993 | 1.99 | -3.9% |
| 1994 | 1.92 | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 1.86 | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 1.8 | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 1.76 | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 1.73 | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 1.7 | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 1.68 | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 1.67 | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 1.66 | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 1.65 | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 1.64 | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 1.63 | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 1.63 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.62 | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 1.62 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.62 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.62 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.62 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.62 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.63 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 1.63 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.63 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.64 | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 1.65 | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 1.66 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 1.67 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 1.68 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 1.71 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 1.73 | +1.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 1.73 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.89, 92% of the median. (61 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.93 | 1.7 | 2.27 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.64 | 1.62 | 1.68 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.64 | 1.62 | 1.67 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.71 | 1.68 | 1.73 | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 153 Iceland 1.75 compare
- 153 Canada 1.75 compare
- 155 Bolivia 1.74 compare
- 157 Marshall Islands 1.72 compare
- 158 United Kingdom 1.71 compare
- 159 Montenegro 1.67 compare
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,015 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % 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 0.0274 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in United States?
- Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in United States was 1.73 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 2.27 in 1990.
- What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.62 in 2007.
- How does United States rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
- United States ranks 156th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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 — 33 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).