Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in World
World: 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 2.5%
Rank
5th
of 11 groups
All-time high
17.3%
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 World, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in World stood at 6.9%. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in World peaked at 17.3% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 2024.
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 World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 17.3% | — |
| 1981 | 17.0% | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 16.7% | -1.6% |
| 1983 | 16.5% | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 16.2% | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 15.9% | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 15.7% | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 15.4% | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 15.1% | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 14.9% | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 14.6% | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 14.4% | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 14.2% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 14.0% | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 13.8% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 13.6% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 13.4% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 13.2% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 13.0% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 12.8% | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 12.6% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 12.4% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 12.1% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 11.9% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 11.7% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 11.4% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 11.2% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 10.9% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 10.7% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 10.4% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 10.1% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 9.9% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 9.6% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 9.3% | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 9.1% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 8.8% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 8.6% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 8.3% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 8.1% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 7.9% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 7.7% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 7.5% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 7.3% | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 7.1% | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 6.9% | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16.1% | 14.9% | 17.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.7% | 12.8% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.5% | 10.4% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.0% | 7.9% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.3% | 6.9% | 7.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near World
- 2 Ethiopia 21.8% compare
- 3 Timor-Leste 19.9% compare
- 4 Central African Republic 19.8% compare
- 5 Niger 19.3% compare
- 6 Madagascar 18.4% compare
- 7 Burundi 17.9% compare
- 8 Somalia 17.5% compare
More health data for World
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 4.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0228 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 4.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0216 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, annual growth rate 0.6217 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, female, per capita 0.0188 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 0.7584 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in World?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in World 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 World?
- The highest recorded value was 17.3% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 2024.
- How does World rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- World ranks 5th out of 11 groups with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this World 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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