Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 12.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
12.3%
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
22nd
of 198 countries
All-time high
49.1%
in 1980
All-time low
12.3%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Bangladesh, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Bangladesh is 12.3%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is down 5.4% on the previous year and down 41.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Bangladesh peaked at 49.1% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 2024.
That places Bangladesh 22nd 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 (crude estimate) in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 49.1% | — |
| 1981 | 48.6% | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 48.2% | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 47.7% | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 47.2% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 46.7% | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 46.1% | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 45.6% | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 45.0% | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 44.4% | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 43.9% | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 43.3% | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 42.7% | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 42.0% | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 41.4% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 40.7% | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 40.0% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 39.2% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 38.4% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 37.5% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 36.6% | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 35.6% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 34.6% | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 33.6% | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 32.5% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 31.3% | -3.5% |
| 2006 | 30.2% | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 29.0% | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 27.8% | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 26.6% | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 25.4% | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 24.2% | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 23.1% | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 21.9% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 20.8% | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 19.8% | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 18.8% | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 17.9% | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 17.0% | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 16.1% | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 15.3% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 14.5% | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 13.7% | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 13.0% | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 12.3% | -5.4% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 12.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.5%, 1.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 12.3% is above the median for South Asia, which is 10.6%, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 46.9% | 44.4% | 49.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.9% | 37.5% | 43.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.8% | 26.6% | 36.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.5% | 16.1% | 25.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.7% | 12.3% | 15.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More health data for Bangladesh
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.36 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,153 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,062 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 35 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.8772 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0468 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.7714 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Bangladesh?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Bangladesh was 12.3% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 49.1% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 2024.
- How does Bangladesh rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Bangladesh ranks 22nd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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 (crude estimate) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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