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

Viet Nam: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 12.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
12.1%
Change on year
down 3.7%
World rank
23rd
of 198 countries
All-time high
40.4%
in 1980
All-time low
12.1%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024

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

102030401980200220241980: 40.41981: 401982: 39.51983: 39.11984: 38.61985: 38.21986: 37.71987: 37.11988: 36.61989: 361990: 35.51991: 34.91992: 34.31993: 33.71994: 33.11995: 32.51996: 31.81997: 31.21998: 30.61999: 29.92000: 29.32001: 28.62002: 27.92003: 27.22004: 26.42005: 25.62006: 24.82007: 242008: 23.22009: 22.32010: 21.52011: 20.62012: 19.82013: 192014: 18.22015: 17.42016: 16.72017: 162018: 15.32019: 14.72020: 14.12021: 13.62022: 132023: 12.62024: 12.1

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

Viet Nam recorded 12.1% 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.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 33.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Viet Nam peaked at 40.4% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 12.1%, in 2024.

Viet Nam ranks 23rd 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 Viet Nam, year by year

Annual values for Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%) in Viet Nam, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 40.4%
1981 40.0% -1.0%
1982 39.5% -1.1%
1983 39.1% -1.1%
1984 38.6% -1.2%
1985 38.2% -1.2%
1986 37.7% -1.3%
1987 37.1% -1.4%
1988 36.6% -1.4%
1989 36.0% -1.5%
1990 35.5% -1.6%
1991 34.9% -1.7%
1992 34.3% -1.7%
1993 33.7% -1.8%
1994 33.1% -1.8%
1995 32.5% -1.9%
1996 31.8% -1.9%
1997 31.2% -2.0%
1998 30.6% -2.1%
1999 29.9% -2.1%
2000 29.3% -2.2%
2001 28.6% -2.3%
2002 27.9% -2.5%
2003 27.2% -2.6%
2004 26.4% -2.8%
2005 25.6% -2.9%
2006 24.8% -3.2%
2007 24.0% -3.3%
2008 23.2% -3.5%
2009 22.3% -3.6%
2010 21.5% -3.8%
2011 20.6% -4.0%
2012 19.8% -4.1%
2013 19.0% -4.1%
2014 18.2% -4.2%
2015 17.4% -4.2%
2016 16.7% -4.2%
2017 16.0% -4.2%
2018 15.3% -4.1%
2019 14.7% -4.0%
2020 14.1% -4.0%
2021 13.6% -3.9%
2022 13.0% -3.8%
2023 12.6% -3.7%
2024 12.1% -3.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 38.3% 36.0% 40.4% 10
1990s 32.7% 29.9% 35.5% 10
2000s 25.9% 22.3% 29.3% 10
2010s 17.9% 14.7% 21.5% 10
2020s 13.1% 12.1% 14.1% 5

Countries ranked near Viet Nam

  1. 20 Bangladesh 12.5% compare
  2. 21 India 12.4% compare
  3. 22 Botswana 12.2% compare
  4. 24 Cambodia 11.9% compare
  5. 25 Gambia 11.9% compare
  6. 26 Yemen 11.9% compare

See the full ranking of 211 places →

More health data for Viet Nam

All data for Viet Nam →

Frequently asked questions

What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Viet Nam?
Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Viet Nam was 12.1% 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 Viet Nam?
The highest recorded value was 40.4% in 1980.
What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Viet Nam?
The lowest recorded value was 12.1% in 2024.
How does Viet Nam rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
Viet Nam ranks 23rd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Viet Nam?
Over the last ten years it is down 33.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Viet Nam 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 Viet Nam. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-kg-m2-age-standardized-estimate-percent/viet-nam/

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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