Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%) by country
Countries reporting
198
Highest
37.1%
Eritrea
Lowest
0.3%
Tonga
Median
3.5%
Years covered
45
1980–2024
Data points
9,495
What the numbers show
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%) is currently reported for 198 countries. The highest value is 37.1% in Eritrea; the lowest is 0.3% in Tonga.
The median across all reporting countries is 3.5%, and the mean is 5.6%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 141.
Over the past decade 85 countries rose and 113 fell. The largest increase was in Venezuela (up 38.3%), and the largest decrease in Bhutan (down 44.5%).
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eritrea | 37.1% | 2024 | up 3.9% | rising |
| 2 | Ethiopia | 21.8% | 2024 | down 11.8% | falling |
| 3 | Timor-Leste | 19.9% | 2024 | down 13.6% | falling |
| 4 | Central African Republic | 19.8% | 2024 | down 5.2% | falling |
| 5 | Niger | 19.3% | 2024 | up 4.6% | falling |
| 6 | Madagascar | 18.4% | 2024 | down 5.7% | falling |
| 7 | Burundi | 17.9% | 2024 | up 2.1% | falling |
| 8 | Somalia | 17.5% | 2024 | up 0.4% | falling |
| 9 | South Sudan | 17.4% | 2024 | down 0.8% | falling |
| 10 | Myanmar | 15.7% | 2024 | down 14.7% | falling |
| 11 | Senegal | 15.7% | 2024 | down 4.4% | falling |
| 12 | Chad | 15.6% | 2024 | down 7.8% | falling |
| 13 | Sudan | 15.0% | 2024 | up 4.0% | falling |
| 14 | Congo | 14.2% | 2024 | down 7.7% | falling |
| 15 | Djibouti | 13.1% | 2024 | down 3.0% | falling |
| 16 | Kenya | 12.8% | 2024 | down 0.0% | falling |
| 17 | Uganda | 12.6% | 2024 | up 1.8% | falling |
| 18 | Namibia | 12.6% | 2024 | down 12.0% | falling |
| 19 | Burkina Faso | 12.5% | 2024 | down 9.0% | falling |
| 20 | Bangladesh | 12.5% | 2024 | down 41.6% | falling |
| 21 | India | 12.4% | 2024 | down 40.9% | falling |
| 22 | Botswana | 12.2% | 2024 | down 10.5% | falling |
| 23 | Viet Nam | 12.1% | 2024 | down 33.5% | falling |
| 24 | Cambodia | 11.9% | 2024 | down 20.4% | falling |
| 25 | Gambia | 11.9% | 2024 | down 15.9% | falling |
| 26 | Yemen | 11.9% | 2024 | up 1.0% | falling |
| 27 | Sri Lanka | 11.9% | 2024 | down 30.0% | falling |
| 28 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 11.8% | 2024 | down 0.3% | falling |
| 29 | Haiti | 11.4% | 2024 | down 6.3% | falling |
| 30 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 11.3% | 2024 | down 26.4% | falling |
| 31 | Japan | 11.2% | 2024 | up 9.9% | rising |
| 32 | Guinea-Bissau | 10.8% | 2024 | down 8.4% | falling |
| 33 | Mozambique | 10.5% | 2024 | down 7.8% | falling |
| 34 | Rwanda | 10.2% | 2024 | down 0.3% | falling |
| 35 | Guinea | 10.0% | 2024 | down 12.3% | falling |
| 36 | North Korea | 9.8% | 2024 | down 21.2% | falling |
| 37 | Philippines | 9.7% | 2024 | down 16.1% | falling |
| 38 | Angola | 9.6% | 2024 | down 12.7% | falling |
| 39 | Mali | 9.5% | 2024 | down 6.7% | falling |
| 40 | Nepal | 9.4% | 2024 | down 33.7% | falling |
| 41 | Equatorial Guinea | 9.4% | 2024 | down 8.9% | falling |
| 42 | Nigeria | 9.3% | 2024 | down 2.7% | falling |
| 43 | Indonesia | 9.2% | 2024 | down 26.9% | falling |
| 44 | Lesotho | 8.7% | 2024 | up 10.2% | falling |
| 45 | Benin | 8.5% | 2024 | down 8.0% | falling |
| 46 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 8.3% | 2024 | down 22.2% | falling |
| 47 | Zambia | 8.2% | 2024 | down 16.1% | falling |
| 48 | Togo | 8.2% | 2024 | down 14.5% | falling |
| 49 | Malawi | 8.0% | 2024 | down 7.0% | falling |
| 50 | Mauritania | 7.9% | 2024 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 51 | Ghana | 7.8% | 2024 | down 7.3% | falling |
| 52 | Cote d'Ivoire | 7.7% | 2024 | down 3.0% | falling |
| 53 | Mauritius | 7.2% | 2024 | up 9.9% | falling |
| 54 | Gabon | 7.0% | 2024 | down 7.4% | falling |
| 55 | Zimbabwe | 6.9% | 2024 | down 10.9% | falling |
| 56 | Pakistan | 6.9% | 2024 | down 39.5% | falling |
| 57 | Guyana | 6.8% | 2024 | down 7.3% | falling |
| 58 | Maldives | 6.8% | 2024 | down 30.4% | falling |
| 59 | Comoros | 6.6% | 2024 | down 7.2% | falling |
| 60 | Thailand | 6.5% | 2024 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 61 | Singapore | 6.4% | 2024 | down 0.4% | falling |
| 62 | Cameroon | 6.3% | 2024 | down 7.2% | falling |
| 63 | Sierra Leone | 6.3% | 2024 | down 30.3% | falling |
| 64 | Sao Tome and Principe | 6.3% | 2024 | down 2.8% | falling |
| 65 | Liberia | 6.1% | 2024 | down 15.3% | falling |
| 66 | Morocco | 5.7% | 2024 | up 2.7% | falling |
| 67 | Malaysia | 5.6% | 2024 | down 19.2% | falling |
| 68 | Afghanistan | 5.6% | 2024 | down 43.6% | falling |
| 69 | Trinidad and Tobago | 5.5% | 2024 | down 4.7% | falling |
| 70 | South Korea | 5.5% | 2024 | up 17.4% | falling |
| 71 | South Africa | 5.3% | 2024 | down 0.1% | falling |
| 72 | Oman | 5.3% | 2024 | up 0.6% | falling |
| 73 | Cape Verde | 5.1% | 2024 | down 9.2% | falling |
| 74 | Venezuela | 4.8% | 2024 | up 38.3% | falling |
| 75 | Libya | 4.7% | 2024 | up 9.2% | falling |
| 76 | Saudi Arabia | 4.7% | 2024 | up 21.1% | rising |
| 77 | China | 4.7% | 2024 | down 24.1% | falling |
| 78 | Algeria | 4.7% | 2024 | down 14.7% | falling |
| 79 | Eswatini | 4.6% | 2024 | up 4.4% | falling |
| 80 | Bermuda | 4.6% | 2024 | down 7.6% | falling |
| 81 | Antigua and Barbuda | 4.5% | 2024 | down 7.7% | falling |
| 82 | Seychelles | 4.5% | 2024 | down 4.2% | falling |
| 83 | Tajikistan | 4.5% | 2024 | up 0.2% | falling |
| 84 | Tunisia | 4.4% | 2024 | up 2.8% | falling |
| 85 | Dominica | 4.3% | 2024 | down 6.8% | falling |
| 86 | Dominican Republic | 4.2% | 2024 | down 3.2% | falling |
| 87 | Switzerland | 4.2% | 2024 | up 7.7% | falling |
| 88 | Cuba | 4.1% | 2024 | down 26.1% | falling |
| 89 | Jamaica | 4.1% | 2024 | down 6.4% | falling |
| 90 | France | 4.1% | 2024 | up 13.9% | falling |
| 91 | Grenada | 3.9% | 2024 | down 7.1% | falling |
| 92 | Israel | 3.9% | 2024 | up 15.0% | flat |
| 93 | Bulgaria | 3.9% | 2024 | up 5.2% | rising |
| 94 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 3.7% | 2024 | down 22.3% | falling |
| 95 | Fiji | 3.7% | 2024 | down 10.7% | falling |
| 96 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 3.7% | 2024 | down 9.6% | falling |
| 97 | Saint Lucia | 3.7% | 2024 | down 12.6% | falling |
| 98 | Kazakhstan | 3.6% | 2024 | up 4.5% | falling |
| 99 | Serbia | 3.6% | 2024 | up 2.2% | rising |
| 100 | Bahrain | 3.4% | 2024 | up 0.4% | falling |
| 101 | Armenia | 3.4% | 2024 | up 17.0% | falling |
| 102 | Bahamas | 3.3% | 2024 | down 2.5% | falling |
| 103 | Brunei Darussalam | 3.3% | 2024 | down 36.5% | falling |
| 104 | Mongolia | 3.3% | 2024 | up 10.9% | falling |
| 105 | Barbados | 3.3% | 2024 | down 5.1% | falling |
| 106 | Andorra | 3.2% | 2024 | up 16.7% | falling |
| 107 | Papua New Guinea | 3.2% | 2024 | down 6.2% | falling |
| 108 | Romania | 3.1% | 2024 | down 8.1% | falling |
| 109 | Georgia | 3.0% | 2024 | down 4.3% | falling |
| 110 | Latvia | 3.0% | 2024 | down 2.8% | falling |
| 111 | Turkmenistan | 2.9% | 2024 | down 8.9% | falling |
| 112 | United Arab Emirates | 2.9% | 2024 | up 7.4% | falling |
| 113 | Bhutan | 2.9% | 2024 | down 44.5% | volatile |
| 114 | Nicaragua | 2.9% | 2024 | up 0.2% | falling |
| 115 | Jordan | 2.9% | 2024 | up 32.6% | falling |
| 116 | Syria | 2.9% | 2024 | up 11.1% | falling |
| 117 | Iraq | 2.8% | 2024 | up 7.5% | falling |
| 118 | Slovakia | 2.8% | 2024 | up 1.9% | rising |
| 119 | Colombia | 2.8% | 2024 | down 4.5% | falling |
| 120 | Azerbaijan | 2.8% | 2024 | up 13.6% | falling |
| 121 | Brazil | 2.7% | 2024 | down 17.0% | falling |
| 122 | Qatar | 2.7% | 2024 | up 9.4% | falling |
| 123 | Greenland | 2.7% | 2024 | up 7.2% | falling |
| 124 | Cyprus | 2.7% | 2024 | up 18.4% | falling |
| 125 | Italy | 2.6% | 2024 | up 15.0% | falling |
| 126 | Honduras | 2.6% | 2024 | down 3.3% | falling |
| 127 | Palestine | 2.6% | 2024 | up 34.4% | falling |
| 128 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2.6% | 2024 | down 7.8% | falling |
| 129 | Hungary | 2.6% | 2024 | down 0.9% | falling |
| 130 | Turkey | 2.6% | 2024 | up 11.7% | falling |
| 131 | Puerto Rico | 2.5% | 2024 | down 1.5% | falling |
| 132 | Austria | 2.5% | 2024 | down 0.2% | falling |
| 133 | El Salvador | 2.5% | 2024 | up 0.9% | falling |
| 134 | Vanuatu | 2.5% | 2024 | down 4.6% | falling |
| 135 | Belarus | 2.5% | 2024 | down 7.2% | falling |
| 136 | Guatemala | 2.5% | 2024 | up 17.3% | falling |
| 137 | Kyrgyzstan | 2.5% | 2024 | up 5.8% | falling |
| 138 | Solomon Islands | 2.5% | 2024 | down 8.0% | falling |
| 139 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2.5% | 2024 | down 0.7% | falling |
| 140 | Uzbekistan | 2.5% | 2024 | down 6.0% | falling |
| 141 | Panama | 2.5% | 2024 | down 2.6% | falling |
| 142 | Lithuania | 2.5% | 2024 | up 10.7% | rising |
| 143 | Slovenia | 2.5% | 2024 | up 10.8% | rising |
| 144 | North Macedonia | 2.4% | 2024 | down 1.2% | falling |
| 145 | Denmark | 2.4% | 2024 | up 9.5% | falling |
| 146 | Lebanon | 2.4% | 2024 | up 8.4% | falling |
| 147 | Belgium | 2.4% | 2024 | up 13.1% | rising |
| 148 | Canada | 2.4% | 2024 | up 15.8% | falling |
| 149 | Costa Rica | 2.4% | 2024 | up 0.0% | falling |
| 150 | Luxembourg | 2.3% | 2024 | up 9.5% | falling |
| 151 | Poland | 2.3% | 2024 | down 8.6% | falling |
| 152 | Russia | 2.3% | 2024 | down 15.4% | rising |
| 153 | Moldova | 2.3% | 2024 | down 4.3% | falling |
| 154 | Spain | 2.3% | 2024 | up 26.5% | falling |
| 155 | Micronesia (country) | 2.2% | 2024 | up 8.2% | falling |
| 156 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 2.1% | 2024 | up 23.3% | falling |
| 157 | Marshall Islands | 2.1% | 2024 | up 18.3% | falling |
| 158 | Belize | 2.1% | 2024 | down 14.8% | falling |
| 159 | Ukraine | 2.1% | 2024 | down 4.7% | falling |
| 160 | Estonia | 2.1% | 2024 | down 8.8% | falling |
| 161 | United States | 2.0% | 2024 | up 10.4% | falling |
| 162 | Czechia | 2.0% | 2024 | up 5.3% | rising |
| 163 | Greece | 2.0% | 2024 | up 6.2% | falling |
| 164 | Portugal | 2.0% | 2024 | up 13.7% | falling |
| 165 | Montenegro | 2.0% | 2024 | down 11.6% | falling |
| 166 | Uruguay | 2.0% | 2024 | down 16.6% | falling |
| 167 | Croatia | 2.0% | 2024 | down 9.5% | falling |
| 168 | Malta | 2.0% | 2024 | up 20.9% | falling |
| 169 | Germany | 2.0% | 2024 | up 12.7% | falling |
| 170 | Australia | 1.9% | 2024 | up 15.5% | falling |
| 171 | Iceland | 1.9% | 2024 | up 11.0% | falling |
| 172 | Netherlands | 1.8% | 2024 | up 11.8% | falling |
| 173 | Palau | 1.8% | 2024 | up 22.4% | falling |
| 174 | Albania | 1.7% | 2024 | up 15.3% | rising |
| 175 | Egypt | 1.7% | 2024 | up 15.0% | falling |
| 176 | Sweden | 1.7% | 2024 | up 3.3% | falling |
| 177 | Finland | 1.7% | 2024 | up 7.8% | falling |
| 178 | Paraguay | 1.6% | 2024 | down 23.9% | falling |
| 179 | Argentina | 1.6% | 2024 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 180 | French Polynesia | 1.6% | 2024 | up 10.8% | falling |
| 181 | Mexico | 1.5% | 2024 | up 2.7% | volatile |
| 182 | New Zealand | 1.5% | 2024 | up 6.3% | falling |
| 183 | Ireland | 1.5% | 2024 | up 24.7% | falling |
| 184 | Norway | 1.4% | 2024 | up 11.2% | falling |
| 185 | Ecuador | 1.4% | 2024 | down 11.0% | falling |
| 186 | Kiribati | 1.3% | 2024 | up 12.6% | falling |
| 187 | Kuwait | 1.3% | 2024 | down 4.2% | falling |
| 188 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 1.1% | 2024 | down 30.7% | falling |
| 189 | Peru | 1.0% | 2024 | down 24.9% | falling |
| 190 | Tuvalu | 0.8% | 2024 | up 6.5% | falling |
| 191 | Niue | 0.7% | 2024 | up 16.7% | falling |
| 192 | Chile | 0.7% | 2024 | down 19.9% | volatile |
| 193 | Samoa | 0.5% | 2024 | up 16.0% | falling |
| 194 | Tokelau | 0.5% | 2024 | up 12.0% | falling |
| 195 | Cook Islands | 0.5% | 2024 | up 5.0% | falling |
| 196 | Naoero | 0.4% | 2024 | up 6.5% | falling |
| 197 | American Samoa | 0.4% | 2024 | up 20.4% | falling |
| 198 | Tonga | 0.3% | 2024 | up 4.6% | falling |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Low income (World Bank) 13.6%
- Mus 7.2%
- South-East Asia (WHO region) 12.1%
- Sur 6.6%
- Africa (WHO region) 11.3%
- Lower-middle income (World Bank) 10.5%
- World 6.9%
- Western Pacific (WHO region) 6.1%
- Eastern Mediterranean (WHO region) 5.7%
- Upper-middle income (World Bank) 4.5%
- High income (World Bank) 3.3%
- Europe (WHO region) 2.6%
- Americas (WHO region) 2.3%