Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 5.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malaysia, 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 Malaysia is 5.6%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malaysia peaked at 20.5% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2024.
That places Malaysia 67th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 20.5% | — |
| 1981 | 20.0% | -2.7% |
| 1982 | 19.4% | -2.7% |
| 1983 | 18.9% | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 18.3% | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 17.8% | -3.0% |
| 1986 | 17.2% | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 16.7% | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 16.1% | -3.3% |
| 1989 | 15.6% | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 15.1% | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 14.5% | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 14.0% | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 13.6% | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 13.1% | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 12.7% | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 12.2% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 11.8% | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 11.5% | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 11.1% | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 10.7% | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 10.4% | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 10.1% | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 9.7% | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 9.4% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 9.1% | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 8.8% | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 8.5% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 8.3% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 7.5% | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 7.3% | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 7.1% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 6.9% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 6.7% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 6.5% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 6.4% | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 6.2% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 6.1% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 5.9% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 5.8% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 5.7% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 5.6% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 18.1% | 15.6% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.0% | 11.1% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.3% | 8.0% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.9% | 6.1% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 5.6% | 6.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 64 Sao Tome and Principe 6.3% compare
- 65 Liberia 6.1% compare
- 66 Morocco 5.7% compare
- 68 Afghanistan 5.6% compare
- 69 Trinidad and Tobago 5.5% compare
- 70 Republic of Korea 5.5% compare
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 652 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0426 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 3.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0298 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malaysia?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malaysia was 5.6% 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.5% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2024.
- How does Malaysia rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Malaysia ranks 67th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia 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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