Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Ghana
Ghana: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 7.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
7.5%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
53rd
of 198 countries
All-time high
20.2%
in 1980
All-time low
7.4%
in 2021
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Ghana, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Ghana stood at 7.5%.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Ghana peaked at 20.2% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 7.4%, in 2021.
Ghana ranks 53rd of 198 countries on this measure, 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 20.2% | — |
| 1981 | 19.7% | -2.2% |
| 1982 | 19.3% | -2.2% |
| 1983 | 18.9% | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 18.5% | -2.1% |
| 1985 | 18.1% | -2.2% |
| 1986 | 17.7% | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 17.3% | -2.3% |
| 1988 | 16.8% | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 16.4% | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 16.0% | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 15.6% | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 15.1% | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 14.7% | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 14.3% | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 13.9% | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 13.5% | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 13.1% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 12.7% | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 12.3% | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 11.9% | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 11.5% | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 11.2% | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 10.8% | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 10.5% | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 10.1% | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 9.8% | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 9.5% | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 9.2% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 9.0% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 8.7% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 8.5% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 8.3% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 8.1% | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 7.9% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 7.8% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 7.7% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 7.6% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 7.5% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 7.5% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 7.5% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 7.4% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 7.4% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 7.5% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 7.5% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 18.3% | 16.4% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.1% | 12.3% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.4% | 9.0% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.9% | 7.5% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.5% | 7.4% | 7.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5623 % 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 0.06 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % 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 Ghana?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Ghana was 7.5% 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 Ghana?
- 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 Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.4% in 2021.
- How does Ghana rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Ghana ranks 53rd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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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