Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 11.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Sri Lanka, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 11.9% for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.5% on the previous year and down 30.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Sri Lanka peaked at 40.5% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 11.9%, in 2024.
That places Sri Lanka 27th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 40.5% | — |
| 1981 | 39.9% | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 39.2% | -1.6% |
| 1983 | 38.6% | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 37.9% | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 37.3% | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 36.6% | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 35.9% | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 35.3% | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 34.6% | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 33.9% | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 33.2% | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 32.5% | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 31.8% | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 31.1% | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 30.4% | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 29.8% | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 29.0% | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 28.3% | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 27.6% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 26.9% | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 26.1% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 25.4% | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 24.6% | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 23.9% | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 23.2% | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 22.5% | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 21.7% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 21.0% | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 20.3% | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 19.6% | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 18.9% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 18.2% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 17.6% | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 16.9% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 16.3% | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 15.8% | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 15.2% | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 14.7% | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 14.2% | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 13.7% | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 13.2% | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 12.7% | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 12.3% | -3.5% |
| 2024 | 11.9% | -3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.6% | 34.6% | 40.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 30.8% | 27.6% | 33.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.6% | 20.3% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.7% | 14.2% | 19.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.8% | 11.9% | 13.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More health data for Sri Lanka
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7332 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 304 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate -0.8577 % 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 0.0351 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate 0.4036 % 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 0.0343 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Sri Lanka?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Sri Lanka was 11.9% 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 40.5% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.9% in 2024.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Sri Lanka ranks 27th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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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