Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Europe (WHO region)
Europe (WHO region): Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 2.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
2.6%
Change on year
up 0.9%
Rank
10th
of 11 groups
All-time high
3.2%
in 1980
All-time low
2.4%
in 2016
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Europe (WHO region), 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Europe (WHO region) stood at 2.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Europe (WHO region) peaked at 3.2% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2016.
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 Europe (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.2% | — |
| 1981 | 3.2% | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 3.1% | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 3.1% | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 3.0% | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 3.0% | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 3.0% | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 2.9% | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 2.9% | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 2.9% | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 2.8% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 2.8% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 2.8% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 2.8% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 2.6% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 2.5% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 2.5% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 2.5% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 2.5% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 2.5% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 2.5% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 2.5% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 2.4% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 2.5% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.9% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Europe (WHO region)
More health data for Europe (WHO region)
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- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 52,021 (2025)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Number of under-five deaths, annual growth rate -8.58 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, annual growth rate -5.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of neonatal deaths, annual growth rate -3.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -74.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -82.58 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Europe (WHO region)?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Europe (WHO region) was 2.6% 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 Europe (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Europe (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2016.
- How does Europe (WHO region) rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Europe (WHO region) ranks 10th out of 11 groups with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Europe (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe (WHO region) 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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