Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in South-East Asia (WHO region)
South-East Asia (WHO region): Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard was 18.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
18.8%
Change on year
down 1.9%
Rank
1st
of 11 groups
All-time high
34.7%
in 1980
All-time low
18.8%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Thinness among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age < -2 standard in South-East Asia (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 South-East Asia (WHO region) is 18.8%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in South-East Asia (WHO region) peaked at 34.7% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 18.8%, in 2024.
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 South-East Asia (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 34.7% | — |
| 1981 | 34.5% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 34.2% | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 34.0% | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 33.7% | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 33.5% | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 33.2% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 32.9% | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 32.7% | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 32.4% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 32.1% | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 31.9% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 31.6% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 31.3% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 31.0% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 30.6% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 30.3% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 29.9% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 29.4% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 29.0% | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 28.5% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 28.0% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 27.5% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 26.9% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 26.4% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 26.0% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 25.5% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 25.2% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 24.8% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 24.5% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 24.1% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 23.8% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 23.4% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 23.1% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 22.7% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 22.3% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 21.9% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 21.5% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 21.1% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 20.7% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 20.3% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 19.9% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 19.5% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 19.2% | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 18.8% | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 33.6% | 32.4% | 34.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 30.7% | 29.0% | 32.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.3% | 24.5% | 28.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.5% | 20.7% | 24.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.6% | 18.8% | 20.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South-East Asia (WHO region)
More health data for South-East Asia (WHO region)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2,449 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 164 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 3,416 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19,075 (2025)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 84 (2025)
- Number of under-five deaths, annual growth rate -4.64 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of neonatal deaths, annual growth rate -4.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.21 % change on previous year (2024)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -30.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -67.98 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in South-East Asia (WHO region)?
- Thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard in South-East Asia (WHO region) was 18.8% 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 South-East Asia (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 34.7% in 1980.
- What is the lowest thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard recorded in South-East Asia (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.8% in 2024.
- How does South-East Asia (WHO region) rank for thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard?
- South-East Asia (WHO region) ranks 1st out of 11 groups with data for 2024.
- Is thinness among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age < -2 standard rising or falling in South-East Asia (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South-East Asia (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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