Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in China
China: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 4.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in China, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
China recorded 4.7% for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in China peaked at 14.0% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 4.7%, in 2024.
China ranks 77th 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 China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 14.0% | — |
| 1981 | 13.6% | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 13.3% | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 13.0% | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 12.7% | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 12.4% | -2.5% |
| 1986 | 12.0% | -2.6% |
| 1987 | 11.7% | -2.7% |
| 1988 | 11.4% | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 11.1% | -2.8% |
| 1990 | 10.7% | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 10.4% | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 10.1% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 9.9% | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 9.6% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 9.4% | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 9.1% | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 8.9% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 8.7% | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 8.6% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 8.4% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 8.2% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 8.1% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 8.0% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 7.7% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 7.4% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 7.2% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 7.0% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 6.9% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 6.7% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 6.5% | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 6.3% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 6.2% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 6.0% | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 5.8% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 5.5% | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 5.3% | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 5.2% | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 4.8% | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 4.7% | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12.5% | 11.1% | 14.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.5% | 8.6% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.7% | 7.0% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.1% | 5.3% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 4.7% | 5.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate -3.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.041 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0414 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in China?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in China was 4.7% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 14.0% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.7% in 2024.
- How does China rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- China ranks 77th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).