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

Spain: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 2.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
2.3%
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
154th
of 198 countries
All-time high
2.4%
in 1980
All-time low
1.7%
in 2007
Years of data
45
1980–2024

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

00.511.522.51980200220241980: 2.41981: 2.31982: 2.31983: 2.21984: 2.21985: 2.21986: 2.11987: 2.11988: 21989: 21990: 21991: 21992: 1.91993: 1.91994: 1.91995: 1.91996: 1.81997: 1.81998: 1.81999: 1.82000: 1.82001: 1.82002: 1.72003: 1.72004: 1.72005: 1.72006: 1.72007: 1.72008: 1.72009: 1.72010: 1.72011: 1.72012: 1.72013: 1.82014: 1.82015: 1.82016: 1.92017: 1.92018: 22019: 22020: 2.12021: 2.12022: 2.22023: 2.22024: 2.3

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 Spain is 2.3%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 26.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Spain peaked at 2.4% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2007.

Spain ranks 154th of 198 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 Spain, year by year

Annual values for Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%) in Spain, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 2.4%
1981 2.3% -2.3%
1982 2.3% -2.2%
1983 2.2% -2.1%
1984 2.2% -2.0%
1985 2.2% -1.9%
1986 2.1% -1.8%
1987 2.1% -1.7%
1988 2.0% -1.7%
1989 2.0% -1.6%
1990 2.0% -1.5%
1991 2.0% -1.4%
1992 1.9% -1.3%
1993 1.9% -1.2%
1994 1.9% -1.2%
1995 1.9% -1.2%
1996 1.8% -1.2%
1997 1.8% -1.1%
1998 1.8% -1.1%
1999 1.8% -1.0%
2000 1.8% -1.0%
2001 1.8% -0.9%
2002 1.7% -0.9%
2003 1.7% -0.8%
2004 1.7% -0.7%
2005 1.7% -0.6%
2006 1.7% -0.4%
2007 1.7% -0.2%
2008 1.7% +0.0%
2009 1.7% +0.4%
2010 1.7% +0.8%
2011 1.7% +1.1%
2012 1.7% +1.3%
2013 1.8% +1.5%
2014 1.8% +1.7%
2015 1.8% +1.9%
2016 1.9% +2.0%
2017 1.9% +2.2%
2018 2.0% +2.3%
2019 2.0% +2.4%
2020 2.1% +2.4%
2021 2.1% +2.5%
2022 2.2% +2.6%
2023 2.2% +2.7%
2024 2.3% +2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 2.2% 2.0% 2.4% 10
1990s 1.9% 1.8% 2.0% 10
2000s 1.7% 1.7% 1.8% 10
2010s 1.8% 1.7% 2.0% 10
2020s 2.2% 2.1% 2.3% 5

Countries ranked near Spain

  1. 151 Poland 2.3% compare
  2. 152 Russian Federation 2.3% compare
  3. 153 Republic of Moldova 2.3% compare
  4. 155 Micronesia, Federated States of 2.2% compare
  5. 156 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.1% compare
  6. 157 Marshall Islands 2.1% compare

See the full ranking of 211 places →

More health data for Spain

All data for Spain →

Frequently asked questions

What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Spain?
Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Spain was 2.3% 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 Spain?
The highest recorded value was 2.4% in 1980.
What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Spain?
The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2007.
How does Spain rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
Spain ranks 154th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Spain?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Spain 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 Spain. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-kg-m2-age-standardized-estimate-percent/spain/

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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