Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 2.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
2.5%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
131st
of 198 countries
All-time high
7.0%
in 1980
All-time low
2.5%
in 2021
Years of data
45
1980–2024

Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Puerto Rico, 1980–2024

024681980200220241980: 71981: 6.81982: 6.51983: 6.31984: 61985: 5.81986: 5.61987: 5.41988: 5.21989: 51990: 4.81991: 4.61992: 4.41993: 4.31994: 4.11995: 3.91996: 3.81997: 3.61998: 3.51999: 3.42000: 3.22001: 3.12002: 3.12003: 32004: 2.92005: 2.82006: 2.82007: 2.72008: 2.72009: 2.72010: 2.72011: 2.62012: 2.62013: 2.62014: 2.62015: 2.62016: 2.62017: 2.62018: 2.52019: 2.52020: 2.52021: 2.52022: 2.52023: 2.52024: 2.5

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 Puerto Rico is 2.5%, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Puerto Rico peaked at 7.0% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 2021.

That places Puerto Rico 131st 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 Puerto Rico, year by year

Annual values for Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%) in Puerto Rico, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 7.0%
1981 6.8% -3.6%
1982 6.5% -3.6%
1983 6.3% -3.7%
1984 6.0% -3.7%
1985 5.8% -3.7%
1986 5.6% -3.8%
1987 5.4% -3.8%
1988 5.2% -3.8%
1989 5.0% -3.8%
1990 4.8% -3.8%
1991 4.6% -3.9%
1992 4.4% -3.9%
1993 4.3% -3.9%
1994 4.1% -3.9%
1995 3.9% -3.9%
1996 3.8% -3.9%
1997 3.6% -3.9%
1998 3.5% -3.8%
1999 3.4% -3.6%
2000 3.2% -3.4%
2001 3.1% -3.2%
2002 3.1% -2.9%
2003 3.0% -2.6%
2004 2.9% -2.4%
2005 2.8% -2.1%
2006 2.8% -1.8%
2007 2.7% -1.5%
2008 2.7% -1.3%
2009 2.7% -1.2%
2010 2.7% -1.0%
2011 2.6% -0.9%
2012 2.6% -0.7%
2013 2.6% -0.6%
2014 2.6% -0.5%
2015 2.6% -0.4%
2016 2.6% -0.3%
2017 2.6% -0.3%
2018 2.5% -0.3%
2019 2.5% -0.1%
2020 2.5% -0.1%
2021 2.5% -0.1%
2022 2.5% +0.0%
2023 2.5% +0.1%
2024 2.5% +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 6.0% 5.0% 7.0% 10
1990s 4.0% 3.4% 4.8% 10
2000s 2.9% 2.7% 3.2% 10
2010s 2.6% 2.5% 2.7% 10
2020s 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 5

Countries ranked near Puerto Rico

  1. 128 Saint Kitts and Nevis 2.6% compare
  2. 129 Hungary 2.6% compare
  3. 130 Türkiye 2.6% compare
  4. 132 Austria 2.5% compare
  5. 133 El Salvador 2.5% compare
  6. 134 Vanuatu 2.5% compare

See the full ranking of 211 places →

More health data for Puerto Rico

All data for Puerto Rico →

Frequently asked questions

What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Puerto Rico?
Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Puerto Rico was 2.5% 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 Puerto Rico?
The highest recorded value was 7.0% in 1980.
What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Puerto Rico?
The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 2021.
How does Puerto Rico rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
Puerto Rico ranks 131st out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Puerto Rico 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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Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Puerto Rico. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-kg-m2-age-standardized-estimate-percent/puerto-rico-us/

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About this data

Indicator
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
211 places, 9,495 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed