Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)

West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 10.51 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
10.51
Change on year
down 0.8%
Rank
52nd
of 156 groups
All-time high
14.87
in 2000
All-time low
10.51
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions), 2000–2022

0510152000201120222000: 14.92001: 14.62002: 14.32003: 142004: 13.72005: 13.52006: 13.22007: 12.92008: 12.62009: 12.32010: 12.12011: 11.82012: 11.62013: 11.42014: 11.32015: 11.12016: 112017: 10.92018: 10.82019: 10.72020: 10.62021: 10.62022: 10.5

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) is 10.51, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) peaked at 14.87 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 10.51, in 2022.

That places West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) 52nd out of 156 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 14.87
2001 14.61 -1.8%
2002 14.29 -2.2%
2003 14.02 -1.9%
2004 13.74 -2.0%
2005 13.46 -2.1%
2006 13.18 -2.1%
2007 12.92 -1.9%
2008 12.62 -2.3%
2009 12.35 -2.2%
2010 12.1 -2.0%
2011 11.84 -2.1%
2012 11.6 -2.0%
2013 11.42 -1.6%
2014 11.29 -1.1%
2015 11.13 -1.5%
2016 11.01 -1.0%
2017 10.92 -0.9%
2018 10.82 -0.9%
2019 10.72 -0.9%
2020 10.64 -0.7%
2021 10.59 -0.4%
2022 10.51 -0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 13.61 12.35 14.87 10
2010s 11.28 10.72 12.1 10
2020s 10.58 10.51 10.64 3

Countries ranked near West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)

  1. 49 Côte d'Ivoire 7.89 compare
  2. 50 Malawi 7.86 compare
  3. 51 Togo 7.6 compare
  4. 52 Guyana 7.45 compare
  5. 53 Suriname 7.18 compare
  6. 54 Sierra Leone 7.16 compare
  7. 55 Gabon 6.99 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)

All data for West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) was 10.51 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
The highest recorded value was 14.87 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
The lowest recorded value was 10.51 in 2022.
How does West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) ranks 52nd out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.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 West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/west-and-central-africa-unicef-prog-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