Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Lao People's Democratic Republic

Lao People's Democratic Republic: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 8.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
8.3%
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
46th
of 198 countries
All-time high
24.0%
in 1980
All-time low
8.3%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024

Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Lao People's Democratic Republic, 1980–2024

101520251980200220241980: 241981: 23.51982: 23.11983: 22.61984: 22.21985: 21.71986: 21.31987: 20.81988: 20.31989: 19.91990: 19.41991: 191992: 18.51993: 18.11994: 17.71995: 17.31996: 16.91997: 16.51998: 16.11999: 15.82000: 15.42001: 15.12002: 14.72003: 14.42004: 142005: 13.72006: 13.32007: 132008: 12.62009: 12.32010: 122011: 11.62012: 11.32013: 112014: 10.72015: 10.42016: 10.12017: 9.82018: 9.62019: 9.32020: 9.12021: 8.92022: 8.72023: 8.52024: 8.3

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

Lao People's Democratic Republic recorded 8.3% 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 2.2% on the previous year and down 22.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Lao People's Democratic Republic peaked at 24.0% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 8.3%, in 2024.

Lao People's Democratic Republic ranks 46th 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 Lao People's Democratic Republic, year by year

Annual values for Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%) in Lao People's Democratic Republic, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 24.0%
1981 23.5% -1.8%
1982 23.1% -1.9%
1983 22.6% -1.9%
1984 22.2% -2.0%
1985 21.7% -2.1%
1986 21.3% -2.1%
1987 20.8% -2.2%
1988 20.3% -2.2%
1989 19.9% -2.3%
1990 19.4% -2.3%
1991 19.0% -2.3%
1992 18.5% -2.3%
1993 18.1% -2.3%
1994 17.7% -2.3%
1995 17.3% -2.3%
1996 16.9% -2.3%
1997 16.5% -2.3%
1998 16.1% -2.2%
1999 15.8% -2.2%
2000 15.4% -2.2%
2001 15.1% -2.3%
2002 14.7% -2.3%
2003 14.4% -2.4%
2004 14.0% -2.4%
2005 13.7% -2.5%
2006 13.3% -2.6%
2007 13.0% -2.6%
2008 12.6% -2.6%
2009 12.3% -2.7%
2010 12.0% -2.7%
2011 11.6% -2.8%
2012 11.3% -2.8%
2013 11.0% -2.8%
2014 10.7% -2.8%
2015 10.4% -2.8%
2016 10.1% -2.8%
2017 9.8% -2.7%
2018 9.6% -2.6%
2019 9.3% -2.5%
2020 9.1% -2.4%
2021 8.9% -2.3%
2022 8.7% -2.3%
2023 8.5% -2.2%
2024 8.3% -2.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 21.9% 19.9% 24.0% 10
1990s 17.5% 15.8% 19.4% 10
2000s 13.9% 12.3% 15.4% 10
2010s 10.6% 9.3% 12.0% 10
2020s 8.7% 8.3% 9.1% 5

Countries ranked near Lao People's Democratic Republic

  1. 43 Indonesia 9.2% compare
  2. 44 Lesotho 8.7% compare
  3. 45 Benin 8.5% compare
  4. 47 Zambia 8.2% compare
  5. 48 Togo 8.2% compare
  6. 49 Malawi 8.0% compare

See the full ranking of 211 places →

More health data for Lao People's Democratic Republic

All data for Lao People's Democratic Republic →

Frequently asked questions

What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Lao People's Democratic Republic was 8.3% 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 Lao People's Democratic Republic?
The highest recorded value was 24.0% in 1980.
What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
The lowest recorded value was 8.3% in 2024.
How does Lao People's Democratic Republic rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
Lao People's Democratic Republic ranks 46th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
Over the last ten years it is down 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Lao People's Democratic Republic 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 Lao People's Democratic Republic. 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/lao-pdr/

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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