Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Iraq

Iraq: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 2.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
2.8%
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
117th
of 198 countries
All-time high
5.7%
in 1980
All-time low
2.6%
in 2014
Years of data
45
1980–2024

Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Iraq, 1980–2024

02461980200220241980: 5.71981: 5.51982: 5.31983: 5.21984: 51985: 4.81986: 4.71987: 4.51988: 4.41989: 4.31990: 4.11991: 41992: 3.91993: 3.81994: 3.71995: 3.61996: 3.51997: 3.41998: 3.31999: 3.22000: 3.12001: 3.12002: 32003: 2.92004: 2.92005: 2.82006: 2.82007: 2.72008: 2.72009: 2.72010: 2.62011: 2.62012: 2.62013: 2.62014: 2.62015: 2.62016: 2.62017: 2.62018: 2.62019: 2.72020: 2.72021: 2.72022: 2.72023: 2.82024: 2.8

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 Iraq is 2.8%, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Iraq peaked at 5.7% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2014.

Iraq ranks 117th of 198 countries on this measure, 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 Iraq, year by year

Annual values for Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%) in Iraq, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 5.7%
1981 5.5% -3.2%
1982 5.3% -3.3%
1983 5.2% -3.2%
1984 5.0% -3.2%
1985 4.8% -3.2%
1986 4.7% -3.2%
1987 4.5% -3.1%
1988 4.4% -3.1%
1989 4.3% -3.0%
1990 4.1% -3.0%
1991 4.0% -2.9%
1992 3.9% -2.8%
1993 3.8% -2.8%
1994 3.7% -2.7%
1995 3.6% -2.7%
1996 3.5% -2.7%
1997 3.4% -2.6%
1998 3.3% -2.6%
1999 3.2% -2.6%
2000 3.1% -2.5%
2001 3.1% -2.5%
2002 3.0% -2.4%
2003 2.9% -2.3%
2004 2.9% -2.1%
2005 2.8% -2.0%
2006 2.8% -1.7%
2007 2.7% -1.5%
2008 2.7% -1.2%
2009 2.7% -0.9%
2010 2.6% -0.6%
2011 2.6% -0.5%
2012 2.6% -0.3%
2013 2.6% -0.2%
2014 2.6% -0.1%
2015 2.6% +0.1%
2016 2.6% +0.1%
2017 2.6% +0.3%
2018 2.6% +0.5%
2019 2.7% +0.7%
2020 2.7% +0.9%
2021 2.7% +1.0%
2022 2.7% +1.1%
2023 2.8% +1.2%
2024 2.8% +1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 4.9% 4.3% 5.7% 10
1990s 3.7% 3.2% 4.1% 10
2000s 2.9% 2.7% 3.1% 10
2010s 2.6% 2.6% 2.7% 10
2020s 2.7% 2.7% 2.8% 5

Countries ranked near Iraq

  1. 114 Nicaragua 2.9% compare
  2. 115 Jordan 2.9% compare
  3. 116 Syrian Arab Republic 2.9% compare
  4. 118 Slovakia 2.8% compare
  5. 119 Colombia 2.8% compare
  6. 120 Azerbaijan 2.8% compare

See the full ranking of 211 places →

More health data for Iraq

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Iraq?
Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Iraq was 2.8% 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 Iraq?
The highest recorded value was 5.7% in 1980.
What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Iraq?
The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2014.
How does Iraq rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
Iraq ranks 117th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Iraq?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Iraq 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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Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Iraq. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-kg-m2-age-standardized-estimate-percent/iraq/

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About this data

Indicator
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
211 places, 9,495 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed