Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Lower-middle income (World Bank)
Lower-middle income (World Bank): Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 10.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
10.5%
Change on year
down 4.4%
Rank
4th
of 11 groups
All-time high
40.3%
in 1980
All-time low
10.5%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Lower-middle 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 Lower-middle income (World Bank) is 10.5%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 35.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Lower-middle income (World Bank) peaked at 40.3% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 10.5%, 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 Lower-middle income (World Bank), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 40.3% | — |
| 1981 | 39.6% | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 38.9% | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 38.1% | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 37.4% | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 36.6% | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 35.9% | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 35.2% | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 34.5% | -2.0% |
| 1989 | 33.8% | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 33.1% | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 32.4% | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 31.8% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 31.1% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 30.5% | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 29.9% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 29.3% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 28.7% | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 28.0% | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 27.4% | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 26.7% | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 26.0% | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 25.3% | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 24.6% | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 23.9% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 23.1% | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 22.4% | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 21.7% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 20.9% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 20.2% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 19.4% | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 18.6% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 17.9% | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 17.1% | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 16.4% | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 15.7% | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 15.0% | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 14.4% | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 13.8% | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 13.2% | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 12.6% | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 12.1% | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 11.5% | -4.4% |
| 2023 | 11.0% | -4.4% |
| 2024 | 10.5% | -4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.0% | 33.8% | 40.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 30.2% | 27.4% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.5% | 20.2% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.2% | 13.2% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.6% | 10.5% | 12.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lower-middle 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
- 5 Niger 19.3% compare
- 6 Madagascar 18.4% compare
- 7 Burundi 17.9% compare
More health data for Lower-middle income (World Bank)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 97,321 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,601 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 16,092 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 7,080 (2025)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 838 (2025)
- Number of under-five deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of neonatal deaths, annual growth rate -2.37 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -8.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -40.79 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Lower-middle income (World Bank)?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Lower-middle income (World Bank) was 10.5% 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 Lower-middle income (World Bank)?
- The highest recorded value was 40.3% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Lower-middle income (World Bank)?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5% in 2024.
- How does Lower-middle income (World Bank) rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Lower-middle income (World Bank) ranks 4th out of 11 groups with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Lower-middle income (World Bank)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lower-middle 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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