Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in Americas (WHO region)
Americas (WHO region): Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard was 1.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.9%
Change on year
up 1.9%
Rank
11th
of 11 groups
All-time high
3.3%
in 1980
All-time low
1.7%
in 2014
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in Americas (WHO region), 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in Americas (WHO region) is 1.9%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and up 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in Americas (WHO region) peaked at 3.3% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2014.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.
Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in Americas (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.3% | — |
| 1981 | 3.2% | -1.7% |
| 1982 | 3.2% | -2.0% |
| 1983 | 3.1% | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 3.0% | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 2.9% | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 2.9% | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 2.8% | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 2.8% | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 2.7% | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 2.7% | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 2.6% | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 2.6% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 2.5% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 2.4% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 2.4% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 2.3% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 2.1% | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 2.0% | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 1.9% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 1.9% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 1.9% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 1.8% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 1.8% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 1.7% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 1.7% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 1.8% | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 1.8% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 1.9% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 1.9% | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Americas (WHO region)
More health data for Americas (WHO region)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 23 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 24,640 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 385 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 72 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 12,380 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 22.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -20.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -12.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases 24,640 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases 385 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in Americas (WHO region)?
- Thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in Americas (WHO region) was 1.9% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard recorded in Americas (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 1980.
- What is the lowest thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard recorded in Americas (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2014.
- How does Americas (WHO region) rank for thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard?
- Americas (WHO region) ranks 11th out of 11 groups with data for 2024.
- Is thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard rising or falling in Americas (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Americas (WHO region) data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard deviations below the median (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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