Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malawi
Malawi: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 8.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
8.0%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
49th
of 198 countries
All-time high
16.0%
in 1980
All-time low
8.0%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malawi, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 8.0% 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 0.2% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malawi peaked at 16.0% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 8.0%, in 2024.
That places Malawi 49th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 16.0% | — |
| 1981 | 15.7% | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 15.5% | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 15.3% | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 15.0% | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 14.8% | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 14.6% | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 14.3% | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 14.1% | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 13.9% | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 13.7% | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 13.4% | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 13.2% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 13.0% | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 12.8% | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 12.6% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 12.4% | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 12.2% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 12.0% | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 11.8% | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 11.5% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 11.3% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 11.1% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 10.9% | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 10.6% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 10.4% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 10.2% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 10.0% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 9.7% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 9.5% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 9.3% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 9.1% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 9.0% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 8.8% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 8.7% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 8.5% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 8.4% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 8.3% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 8.2% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 8.2% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 8.1% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 8.1% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 8.1% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 8.1% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 8.0% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14.9% | 13.9% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.7% | 11.8% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.5% | 9.5% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.7% | 8.2% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.1% | 8.0% | 8.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 46 Lao People's Democratic Republic 8.3% compare
- 47 Zambia 8.2% compare
- 48 Togo 8.2% compare
- 50 Mauritania 7.9% compare
- 51 Ghana 7.8% compare
- 52 Côte d'Ivoire 7.7% compare
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 5.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0084 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 2.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.006 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malawi?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malawi was 8.0% 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 16.0% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.0% in 2024.
- How does Malawi rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Malawi ranks 49th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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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