Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 21.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
21.8%
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
2nd
of 198 countries
All-time high
29.0%
in 1980
All-time low
21.8%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Ethiopia, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Ethiopia is 21.8%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Ethiopia peaked at 29.0% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 21.8%, in 2024.
Ethiopia ranks 2nd 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 29.0% | — |
| 1981 | 29.0% | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 29.0% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 28.9% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 28.9% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 28.9% | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 28.8% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 28.8% | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 28.8% | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 28.7% | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 28.7% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 28.6% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 28.6% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 28.5% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 28.5% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 28.5% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 28.4% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 28.4% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 28.3% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 28.2% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 28.1% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 28.0% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 27.9% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 27.7% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 27.5% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 27.4% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 27.1% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 26.9% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 26.7% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 26.4% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 26.1% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 25.7% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 25.4% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 25.1% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 24.7% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 24.4% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 24.0% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 23.7% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 23.4% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 23.1% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 22.8% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 22.6% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 22.3% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 22.1% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 21.8% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 28.9% | 28.7% | 29.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.5% | 28.2% | 28.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.4% | 26.4% | 28.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.6% | 23.1% | 26.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.3% | 21.8% | 22.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 1 Eritrea 37.1% compare
- 3 Timor-Leste 19.9% compare
- 4 Central African Republic 19.8% compare
- 5 Niger 19.3% compare
More health data for Ethiopia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9494 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 744.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 19,997 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 3.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per capita 0.0359 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate 3.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0361 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Ethiopia?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Ethiopia was 21.8% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 29.0% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.8% in 2024.
- How does Ethiopia rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Ethiopia ranks 2nd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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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