Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 5.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
5.6%
Change on year
down 5.7%
World rank
68th
of 198 countries
All-time high
35.1%
in 1980
All-time low
5.6%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Afghanistan, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Afghanistan stood at 5.6%. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.7% on the previous year and down 43.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Afghanistan peaked at 35.1% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2024.
Afghanistan ranks 68th of 198 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 35.1% | — |
| 1981 | 34.4% | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 33.6% | -2.2% |
| 1983 | 32.8% | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 32.1% | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 31.3% | -2.4% |
| 1986 | 30.5% | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 29.7% | -2.6% |
| 1988 | 28.9% | -2.6% |
| 1989 | 28.1% | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 27.4% | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 26.6% | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 25.8% | -2.9% |
| 1993 | 25.0% | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 24.3% | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 23.5% | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 22.7% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 22.0% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 21.2% | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 20.4% | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 19.6% | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 18.8% | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 18.0% | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 17.3% | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 16.5% | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 15.8% | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 15.0% | -4.6% |
| 2007 | 14.3% | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 13.6% | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 13.0% | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 12.3% | -5.1% |
| 2011 | 11.7% | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 11.0% | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 10.4% | -5.4% |
| 2014 | 9.9% | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 9.3% | -5.5% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | -5.5% |
| 2017 | 8.3% | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 7.9% | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 7.4% | -5.6% |
| 2020 | 7.0% | -5.5% |
| 2021 | 6.6% | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 6.3% | -5.6% |
| 2023 | 5.9% | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 5.6% | -5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 31.6% | 28.1% | 35.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.9% | 20.4% | 27.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.2% | 13.0% | 19.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.7% | 7.4% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.3% | 5.6% | 7.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 65 Liberia 6.1% compare
- 66 Morocco 5.7% compare
- 67 Malaysia 5.6% compare
- 69 Trinidad and Tobago 5.5% compare
- 70 Republic of Korea 5.5% compare
- 71 South Africa 5.3% compare
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 15-19, male, annual growth rate 2.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0569 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0485 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Afghanistan?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Afghanistan was 5.6% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 35.1% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2024.
- How does Afghanistan rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Afghanistan ranks 68th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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