Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Gambia
Gambia: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 11.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
11.9%
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
25th
of 198 countries
All-time high
22.9%
in 1980
All-time low
11.9%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Gambia, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
Gambia recorded 11.9% 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 1.6% on the previous year and down 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Gambia peaked at 22.9% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 11.9%, in 2024.
Gambia ranks 25th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Gambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 22.9% | — |
| 1981 | 22.7% | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 22.5% | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 22.3% | -0.8% |
| 1984 | 22.2% | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 22.0% | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 21.9% | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 21.7% | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 21.5% | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 21.4% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 21.2% | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 21.0% | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 20.8% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 20.6% | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 20.4% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 20.2% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 20.0% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 19.7% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 19.4% | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 19.2% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 18.9% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 18.5% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 18.2% | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 17.9% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 17.5% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 17.2% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 16.8% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 16.5% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 16.1% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 15.7% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 15.4% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 15.1% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 14.7% | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 14.4% | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 14.2% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 13.9% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 13.6% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 13.4% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 13.1% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 12.9% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 12.5% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 12.3% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 12.1% | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 11.9% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.1% | 21.4% | 22.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.3% | 19.2% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.3% | 15.7% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.1% | 12.9% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.3% | 11.9% | 12.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More health data for Gambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.27 % 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 1,044 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 700 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per capita 0.0647 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, annual growth rate -0.0011 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, per capita 0.0659 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 10-14, female, annual growth rate 1.81 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Gambia?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Gambia was 11.9% 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 22.9% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.9% in 2024.
- How does Gambia rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Gambia ranks 25th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gambia 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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