Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 9.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
9.3%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
42nd
of 198 countries
All-time high
18.7%
in 1980
All-time low
9.3%
in 2021
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria is 9.3%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Nigeria peaked at 18.7% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 9.3%, in 2021.
Nigeria ranks 42nd of 198 countries on this measure, 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 18.7% | — |
| 1981 | 18.4% | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 18.1% | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 17.8% | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 17.5% | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 17.3% | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 17.0% | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 16.7% | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 16.4% | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 16.1% | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 15.9% | -1.8% |
| 1991 | 15.6% | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 15.3% | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 15.0% | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 14.7% | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 14.4% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 14.1% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 13.8% | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 13.5% | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 13.2% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 12.9% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 12.6% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 12.3% | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 12.0% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 11.7% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 11.4% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 11.1% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 10.9% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 10.6% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 10.4% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 10.1% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 10.0% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 9.8% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 9.7% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 9.6% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 9.5% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 9.4% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 9.4% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 9.3% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 9.3% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 9.3% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 9.3% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 9.3% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 9.3% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 9.3% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17.4% | 16.1% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.6% | 13.2% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.6% | 10.4% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.6% | 9.3% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.3% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More health data for Nigeria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,301 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 257,921 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 2.03 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per capita 0.0314 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate 2.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0325 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Nigeria?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Nigeria was 9.3% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 18.7% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.3% in 2021.
- How does Nigeria rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Nigeria ranks 42nd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria 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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