Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Ghana
Ghana: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 7.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Ghana, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Ghana stood at 7.8%. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Ghana peaked at 21.8% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 2024.
That places Ghana 51st out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 21.8% | — |
| 1981 | 21.3% | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 20.9% | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 20.4% | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 20.0% | -2.2% |
| 1985 | 19.5% | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 19.1% | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 18.6% | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 18.2% | -2.5% |
| 1989 | 17.7% | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 17.2% | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 16.8% | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 16.3% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 15.8% | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 15.4% | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 14.9% | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 14.5% | -3.0% |
| 1997 | 14.0% | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 13.6% | -3.1% |
| 1999 | 13.2% | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 12.8% | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 12.3% | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 11.9% | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 11.6% | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 11.2% | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 10.8% | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 10.5% | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 10.2% | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 9.8% | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 9.6% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 9.3% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 9.0% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 8.8% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 8.6% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 8.5% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 8.3% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 8.2% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 8.1% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 8.0% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 8.0% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 7.9% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 7.9% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 7.9% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 7.8% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 19.8% | 17.7% | 21.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.2% | 13.2% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.1% | 9.6% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.5% | 8.0% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.9% | 7.8% | 7.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 1.1 % 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 1 % 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 0.036 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Ghana?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Ghana was 7.8% 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 2024.
- How does Ghana rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Ghana ranks 51st out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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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