Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in India
India: Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard was 19.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
19.3%
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
4th
of 198 countries
All-time high
38.8%
in 1980
All-time low
19.3%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in India, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
India recorded 19.3% for thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in India peaked at 38.8% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 19.3%, in 2024.
India ranks 4th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 38.8% | — |
| 1981 | 38.4% | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 38.0% | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 37.7% | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 37.3% | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 37.0% | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 36.6% | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 36.3% | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 35.9% | -1.0% |
| 1989 | 35.6% | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 35.2% | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 34.9% | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 34.5% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 34.1% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 33.7% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 33.3% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 32.9% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 32.4% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 31.9% | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 31.4% | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 30.8% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 30.2% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 29.6% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 29.0% | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 28.4% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 27.8% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 27.3% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 26.8% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 26.4% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 26.0% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 25.6% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 25.2% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 24.8% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 24.4% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 23.9% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 23.5% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 23.0% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 22.5% | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 22.1% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 21.6% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 21.1% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 20.7% | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 20.2% | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 19.8% | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 19.3% | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.2% | 35.6% | 38.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.4% | 31.4% | 35.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.2% | 26.0% | 30.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.7% | 21.6% | 25.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.2% | 19.3% | 21.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -0.7713 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.116 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -0.9514 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1259 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in India?
- Thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in India was 19.3% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 38.8% in 1980.
- What is the lowest thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.3% in 2024.
- How does India rank for thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard?
- India ranks 4th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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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