Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Botswana

Botswana: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 13.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
13.0%
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
16th
of 198 countries
All-time high
20.2%
in 1980
All-time low
13.0%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024

Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Botswana, 1980–2024

051015201980200220241980: 20.21981: 20.11982: 201983: 19.91984: 19.81985: 19.71986: 19.61987: 19.51988: 19.41989: 19.31990: 19.21991: 19.11992: 191993: 18.91994: 18.71995: 18.61996: 18.51997: 18.41998: 18.31999: 18.22000: 182001: 17.92002: 17.72003: 17.52004: 17.32005: 17.12006: 16.82007: 16.52008: 16.22009: 15.92010: 15.62011: 15.32012: 152013: 14.72014: 14.52015: 14.32016: 14.12017: 13.92018: 13.82019: 13.72020: 13.62021: 13.52022: 13.32023: 13.12024: 13

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

The most recent figure for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Botswana is 13.0%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.

The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Botswana peaked at 20.2% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 13.0%, in 2024.

That places Botswana 16th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

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 Botswana, year by year

Annual values for Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) (%) in Botswana, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 20.2%
1981 20.1% -0.5%
1982 20.0% -0.4%
1983 19.9% -0.5%
1984 19.8% -0.5%
1985 19.7% -0.5%
1986 19.6% -0.5%
1987 19.5% -0.5%
1988 19.4% -0.5%
1989 19.3% -0.6%
1990 19.2% -0.6%
1991 19.1% -0.5%
1992 19.0% -0.5%
1993 18.9% -0.6%
1994 18.7% -0.6%
1995 18.6% -0.6%
1996 18.5% -0.6%
1997 18.4% -0.6%
1998 18.3% -0.6%
1999 18.2% -0.7%
2000 18.0% -0.8%
2001 17.9% -0.9%
2002 17.7% -0.9%
2003 17.5% -1.0%
2004 17.3% -1.2%
2005 17.1% -1.3%
2006 16.8% -1.5%
2007 16.5% -1.7%
2008 16.2% -1.8%
2009 15.9% -2.0%
2010 15.6% -2.1%
2011 15.3% -2.1%
2012 15.0% -2.0%
2013 14.7% -1.7%
2014 14.5% -1.6%
2015 14.3% -1.4%
2016 14.1% -1.3%
2017 13.9% -1.1%
2018 13.8% -0.9%
2019 13.7% -0.8%
2020 13.6% -0.8%
2021 13.5% -0.8%
2022 13.3% -1.1%
2023 13.1% -1.4%
2024 13.0% -1.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 19.7% 19.3% 20.2% 10
1990s 18.7% 18.2% 19.2% 10
2000s 17.1% 15.9% 18.0% 10
2010s 14.5% 13.7% 15.6% 10
2020s 13.3% 13.0% 13.6% 5

Countries ranked near Botswana

  1. 13 Myanmar 15.3% compare
  2. 14 Congo 14.2% compare
  3. 15 Yemen 13.6% compare
  4. 17 Djibouti 12.9% compare
  5. 18 Namibia 12.9% compare
  6. 19 Gambia 12.5% compare

See the full ranking of 211 places →

More health data for Botswana

All data for Botswana →

Frequently asked questions

What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Botswana?
Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Botswana was 13.0% 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 Botswana?
The highest recorded value was 20.2% in 1980.
What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Botswana?
The lowest recorded value was 13.0% in 2024.
How does Botswana rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
Botswana ranks 16th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Botswana?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Botswana 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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Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Botswana. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-kg-m2-crude-estimate-percent/botswana/

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About this data

Indicator
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude 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
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