Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Low income (World Bank)
Low income (World Bank): Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 13.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
13.6%
Change on year
down 0.9%
Rank
1st
of 11 groups
All-time high
22.6%
in 1980
All-time low
13.6%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Low income (World Bank), 1980–2024
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 Low income (World Bank) is 13.6%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Low income (World Bank) peaked at 22.6% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 13.6%, in 2024.
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 Low income (World Bank), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 22.6% | — |
| 1981 | 22.3% | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 22.1% | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 21.8% | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 21.6% | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 21.4% | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 21.2% | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 21.0% | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 20.8% | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 20.6% | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 20.5% | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 20.3% | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 20.1% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 20.0% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 19.8% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 19.7% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 19.5% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 19.2% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 19.0% | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 18.8% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 18.6% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 18.4% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 18.1% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 17.9% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 17.7% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 17.4% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 17.1% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 16.8% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 16.6% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 16.3% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 16.0% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 15.8% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 15.6% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 15.4% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 15.2% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 15.0% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 14.8% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 14.6% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 14.4% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 14.2% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 14.1% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 14.0% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 13.8% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 13.7% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 13.6% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 21.6% | 20.6% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.7% | 18.8% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.5% | 16.3% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.1% | 14.2% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.8% | 13.6% | 14.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Low income (World Bank)
- 1 Eritrea 37.1% compare
- 2 Ethiopia 21.8% compare
- 3 Timor-Leste 19.9% compare
- 4 Central African Republic 19.8% compare
More health data for Low income (World Bank)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 197,977 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 7,814 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 5,130 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 16,008 (2025)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1,406 (2025)
- Number of under-five deaths, annual growth rate -0.6182 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of neonatal deaths, annual growth rate 0.2365 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.222 % change on previous year (2024)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 6.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 289.49 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Low income (World Bank)?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Low income (World Bank) was 13.6% 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 Low income (World Bank)?
- The highest recorded value was 22.6% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Low income (World Bank)?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.6% in 2024.
- How does Low income (World Bank) rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Low income (World Bank) ranks 1st out of 11 groups with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Low income (World Bank)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Low income (World Bank) 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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