Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in World Bank (low income)

World Bank (low income): Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 was 12.19 in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
12.19
Change on year
down 1.1%
Rank
30th
of 156 groups
All-time high
16.67
in 2000
All-time low
12.19
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 in World Bank (low income), 2000–2022

0510152000201120222000: 16.72001: 16.42002: 16.22003: 162004: 15.72005: 15.52006: 15.22007: 152008: 14.72009: 14.42010: 14.22011: 13.92012: 13.72013: 13.52014: 13.42015: 13.22016: 13.12017: 12.92018: 12.72019: 12.62020: 12.42021: 12.32022: 12.2

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2022, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in World Bank (low income) stood at 12.19. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in World Bank (low income) peaked at 16.67 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.19, in 2022.

World Bank (low income) ranks 30th 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 World Bank (low income), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 (Crude estimate) in World Bank (low income), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 16.67
2001 16.45 -1.3%
2002 16.21 -1.5%
2003 16 -1.3%
2004 15.75 -1.6%
2005 15.51 -1.5%
2006 15.24 -1.7%
2007 14.95 -1.9%
2008 14.68 -1.8%
2009 14.42 -1.8%
2010 14.18 -1.6%
2011 13.93 -1.8%
2012 13.71 -1.5%
2013 13.54 -1.3%
2014 13.39 -1.1%
2015 13.22 -1.2%
2016 13.06 -1.3%
2017 12.91 -1.2%
2018 12.73 -1.4%
2019 12.57 -1.2%
2020 12.44 -1.1%
2021 12.32 -1.0%
2022 12.19 -1.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.59 14.42 16.67 10
2010s 13.32 12.57 14.18 10
2020s 12.32 12.19 12.44 3

Countries ranked near World Bank (low income)

  1. 27 Uganda 11.48 compare
  2. 28 Burkina Faso 11.26 compare
  3. 29 Cambodia 11.15 compare
  4. 30 Tanzania, United Republic of 10.53 compare
  5. 31 Mozambique 10.03 compare
  6. 32 Nepal 9.93 compare
  7. 33 Philippines 9.87 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for World Bank (low income)

All data for World Bank (low income) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in World Bank (low income)?
Prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 in World Bank (low income) was 12.19 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in World Bank (low income)?
The highest recorded value was 16.67 in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 recorded in World Bank (low income)?
The lowest recorded value was 12.19 in 2022.
How does World Bank (low income) rank for prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5?
World Bank (low income) ranks 30th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 rising or falling in World Bank (low income)?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this World Bank (low income) 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 World Bank (low income). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-crude-estimate/world-bank-low-income/

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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