Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 12.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
12.5%
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
20th
of 198 countries
All-time high
49.7%
in 1980
All-time low
12.5%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Bangladesh, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Bangladesh stood at 12.5%. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 41.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Bangladesh peaked at 49.7% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 12.5%, in 2024.
Bangladesh ranks 20th 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.
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 49.7% | — |
| 1981 | 49.2% | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 48.8% | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 48.3% | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 47.8% | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 47.3% | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 46.8% | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 46.2% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 45.7% | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 45.1% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 44.5% | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 44.0% | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 43.4% | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 42.7% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 42.1% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 41.4% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 40.7% | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 40.0% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 39.1% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 38.3% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 37.3% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 36.4% | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 35.3% | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 34.3% | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 33.2% | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 32.0% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 30.9% | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 29.7% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 28.5% | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 27.3% | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 26.1% | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 24.9% | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 23.7% | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 22.5% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 21.4% | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 20.3% | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 19.3% | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 18.3% | -5.1% |
| 2018 | 17.3% | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 16.4% | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 15.6% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 14.7% | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 14.0% | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 13.2% | -5.4% |
| 2024 | 12.5% | -5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 47.5% | 45.1% | 49.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.6% | 38.3% | 44.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.5% | 27.3% | 37.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.0% | 16.4% | 26.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.0% | 12.5% | 15.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More health data for Bangladesh
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.36 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,153 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,062 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 35 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.8772 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0468 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.7714 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Bangladesh?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Bangladesh was 12.5% 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 Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 49.7% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.5% in 2024.
- How does Bangladesh rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Bangladesh ranks 20th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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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