Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Pakistan
Pakistan: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 6.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
6.9%
Change on year
down 5.0%
World rank
56th
of 198 countries
All-time high
36.0%
in 1980
All-time low
6.9%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Pakistan, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Pakistan stood at 6.9%. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is down 5.0% on the previous year and down 39.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Pakistan peaked at 36.0% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 2024.
That places Pakistan 56th 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 36.0% | — |
| 1981 | 35.3% | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 34.5% | -2.2% |
| 1983 | 33.7% | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 32.9% | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 32.1% | -2.4% |
| 1986 | 31.3% | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 30.5% | -2.6% |
| 1988 | 29.7% | -2.6% |
| 1989 | 28.9% | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 28.1% | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 27.3% | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 26.6% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 25.8% | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 25.0% | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 24.3% | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 23.5% | -3.1% |
| 1997 | 22.8% | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 22.0% | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 21.3% | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 20.5% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 19.8% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 19.0% | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 18.3% | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 17.6% | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 16.9% | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 16.3% | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 15.6% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 15.0% | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 14.4% | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 13.7% | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 13.1% | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 12.5% | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 11.9% | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 11.4% | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 10.8% | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 10.3% | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 9.8% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 9.3% | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 8.9% | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 8.4% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 8.0% | -4.9% |
| 2022 | 7.6% | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 7.2% | -5.0% |
| 2024 | 6.9% | -5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 32.5% | 28.9% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.7% | 21.3% | 28.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.3% | 14.4% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.2% | 8.9% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.6% | 6.9% | 8.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More health data for Pakistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.14 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8219 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 944.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 55,286 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 15-19, male, annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0549 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate 0.8963 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0452 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Pakistan?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Pakistan was 6.9% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 36.0% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 2024.
- How does Pakistan rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Pakistan ranks 56th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Pakistan 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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