Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Nepal
Nepal: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 9.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Nepal, 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 Nepal is 9.4%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.0% on the previous year and down 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Nepal peaked at 38.1% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 2024.
That places Nepal 40th 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 38.1% | — |
| 1981 | 37.4% | -1.7% |
| 1982 | 36.8% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 36.1% | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 35.5% | -1.9% |
| 1985 | 34.8% | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 34.1% | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 33.4% | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 32.7% | -2.1% |
| 1989 | 32.0% | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 31.3% | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 30.6% | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 30.0% | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 29.3% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 28.6% | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 27.9% | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 27.2% | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 26.5% | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 25.7% | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 25.0% | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 24.2% | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 23.5% | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 22.7% | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 22.0% | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 21.2% | -3.4% |
| 2005 | 20.5% | -3.5% |
| 2006 | 19.7% | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 19.0% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 18.3% | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 17.6% | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 16.9% | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 16.2% | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 15.5% | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 14.9% | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 14.3% | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 13.7% | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 13.1% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 12.6% | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 12.1% | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 11.6% | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 11.1% | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 10.7% | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 10.2% | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 9.8% | -4.0% |
| 2024 | 9.4% | -4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 35.1% | 32.0% | 38.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.2% | 25.0% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.9% | 17.6% | 24.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.1% | 11.6% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.3% | 9.4% | 11.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More health data for Nepal
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8518 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,326 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 955 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate 0.3625 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0213 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 3.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0199 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Nepal?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Nepal was 9.4% 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 38.1% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 2024.
- How does Nepal rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Nepal ranks 40th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nepal 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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