Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in India
India: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 12.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
12.4%
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
21st
of 198 countries
All-time high
52.0%
in 1980
All-time low
12.4%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in India, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
India recorded 12.4% 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.
The figure is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 40.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in India peaked at 52.0% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 12.4%, in 2024.
India ranks 21st 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 India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 52.0% | — |
| 1981 | 51.1% | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 50.1% | -2.0% |
| 1983 | 49.1% | -2.0% |
| 1984 | 48.1% | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 47.1% | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 46.1% | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 45.2% | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 44.2% | -2.0% |
| 1989 | 43.3% | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 42.5% | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 41.6% | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 40.8% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 40.0% | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 39.3% | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 38.5% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 37.8% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 37.0% | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 36.2% | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 35.3% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 34.5% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 33.6% | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 32.7% | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 31.8% | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 30.9% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 30.0% | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 28.1% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 27.1% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 26.1% | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 25.0% | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 24.0% | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 23.0% | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 22.0% | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 20.9% | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 20.0% | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 19.0% | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 18.1% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 17.2% | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 16.3% | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 15.5% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 14.6% | -5.2% |
| 2022 | 13.9% | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 13.1% | -5.4% |
| 2024 | 12.4% | -5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 47.6% | 43.3% | 52.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.9% | 35.3% | 42.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.4% | 26.1% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.5% | 16.3% | 25.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.9% | 12.4% | 15.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate 2.53 % 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 0.0268 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 2.34 % 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 0.022 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in India?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in India was 12.4% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 52.0% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.4% in 2024.
- How does India rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- India ranks 21st out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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).