Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Jamaica
Jamaica: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 3.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
3.9%
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
87th
of 198 countries
All-time high
12.5%
in 1980
All-time low
3.9%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Jamaica, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Jamaica stood at 3.9%. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Jamaica peaked at 12.5% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2024.
Jamaica ranks 87th 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 Jamaica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 12.5% | — |
| 1981 | 12.2% | -2.5% |
| 1982 | 11.9% | -2.6% |
| 1983 | 11.5% | -2.7% |
| 1984 | 11.2% | -2.8% |
| 1985 | 10.9% | -2.9% |
| 1986 | 10.6% | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 10.3% | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 9.9% | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 9.6% | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 9.3% | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 9.0% | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 8.7% | -3.5% |
| 1993 | 8.4% | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 8.0% | -3.8% |
| 1995 | 7.7% | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 7.4% | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 7.1% | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 6.8% | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 6.5% | -4.1% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 6.0% | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 5.8% | -3.6% |
| 2003 | 5.6% | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 5.4% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 5.3% | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 5.1% | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 5.0% | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 4.8% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 4.7% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 4.6% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 4.5% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 4.5% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 4.4% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 4.4% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 4.2% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 4.1% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 4.0% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 4.0% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.1% | 9.6% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.9% | 6.5% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 4.8% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.0% | 3.9% | 4.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More health data for Jamaica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3325 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,308 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 31 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.64 % 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 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.6 % 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 Jamaica?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Jamaica was 3.9% 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 12.5% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2024.
- How does Jamaica rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Jamaica ranks 87th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Jamaica 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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