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

Canada: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 2.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
2.0%
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
139th
of 198 countries
All-time high
3.4%
in 1980
All-time low
1.7%
in 2007
Years of data
45
1980–2024

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

01231980200220241980: 3.41981: 3.31982: 3.21983: 3.11984: 31985: 2.91986: 2.81987: 2.71988: 2.61989: 2.51990: 2.41991: 2.31992: 2.21993: 2.21994: 2.11995: 21996: 21997: 1.91998: 1.91999: 1.92000: 1.82001: 1.82002: 1.82003: 1.82004: 1.82005: 1.72006: 1.72007: 1.72008: 1.72009: 1.82010: 1.82011: 1.82012: 1.82013: 1.82014: 1.82015: 1.82016: 1.82017: 1.82018: 1.92019: 1.92020: 1.92021: 1.92022: 22023: 22024: 2

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

Canada recorded 2.0% for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in 2024.

That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Canada peaked at 3.4% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2007.

That places Canada 139th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

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 Canada, year by year

Annual values for Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) (%) in Canada, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 3.4%
1981 3.3% -2.9%
1982 3.2% -3.0%
1983 3.1% -3.2%
1984 3.0% -3.4%
1985 2.9% -3.6%
1986 2.8% -3.7%
1987 2.7% -3.8%
1988 2.6% -3.7%
1989 2.5% -3.6%
1990 2.4% -3.7%
1991 2.3% -3.7%
1992 2.2% -3.6%
1993 2.2% -3.4%
1994 2.1% -3.2%
1995 2.0% -3.0%
1996 2.0% -2.8%
1997 1.9% -2.5%
1998 1.9% -2.2%
1999 1.9% -1.8%
2000 1.8% -1.5%
2001 1.8% -1.2%
2002 1.8% -1.0%
2003 1.8% -0.9%
2004 1.8% -0.7%
2005 1.7% -0.6%
2006 1.7% -0.4%
2007 1.7% -0.1%
2008 1.7% +0.2%
2009 1.8% +0.4%
2010 1.8% +0.5%
2011 1.8% +0.6%
2012 1.8% +0.6%
2013 1.8% +0.6%
2014 1.8% +0.6%
2015 1.8% +0.6%
2016 1.8% +0.7%
2017 1.8% +1.1%
2018 1.9% +1.2%
2019 1.9% +1.2%
2020 1.9% +1.0%
2021 1.9% +0.9%
2022 2.0% +1.3%
2023 2.0% +1.6%
2024 2.0% +1.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 3.0% 2.5% 3.4% 10
1990s 2.1% 1.9% 2.4% 10
2000s 1.8% 1.7% 1.8% 10
2010s 1.8% 1.8% 1.9% 10
2020s 2.0% 1.9% 2.0% 5

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 136 Cyprus 2.1% compare
  2. 137 Romania 2.1% compare
  3. 138 Solomon Islands 2.1% compare
  4. 140 Qatar 2.0% compare
  5. 141 Denmark 2.0% compare
  6. 142 Italy 1.9% compare

See the full ranking of 211 places →

More health data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Canada?
Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Canada was 2.0% 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 Canada?
The highest recorded value was 3.4% in 1980.
What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2007.
How does Canada rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
Canada ranks 139th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Canada 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 Canada. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/underweight-among-adults-bmi-18-5-kg-m2-crude-estimate-percent/canada/

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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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