Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Belgium
Belgium: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 2.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
2.4%
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
147th
of 198 countries
All-time high
2.4%
in 2024
All-time low
2.1%
in 2010
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Belgium, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Belgium stood at 2.4%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Belgium peaked at 2.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 2010.
That places Belgium 147th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.2% | — |
| 1981 | 2.2% | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 2.1% | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 2.1% | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 2.1% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 2.1% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 2.1% | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 2.1% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 2.1% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 2.1% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 2.1% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 2.1% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 2.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 2.1% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 2.1% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 2.1% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 2.1% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 2.1% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 2.1% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 2.1% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 2.1% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 2.1% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 2.2% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 2.2% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | +1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 144 North Macedonia 2.4% compare
- 145 Denmark 2.4% compare
- 146 Lebanon 2.4% compare
- 148 Canada 2.4% compare
- 149 Costa Rica 2.4% compare
- 150 Luxembourg 2.3% compare
More health data for Belgium
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2923 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,160 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 59 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate -0.4409 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0323 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0319 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Belgium?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Belgium was 2.4% 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 Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 2.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 2010.
- How does Belgium rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Belgium ranks 147th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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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