Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 9.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
9.3%
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
39th
of 198 countries
All-time high
24.4%
in 1980
All-time low
9.3%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, 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 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of is 9.3%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of peaked at 24.4% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 9.3%, in 2024.
That places Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 39th 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 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 24.4% | — |
| 1981 | 24.1% | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 23.7% | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 23.4% | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 23.0% | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 22.7% | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 22.3% | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 21.9% | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 21.6% | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 21.2% | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 20.8% | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 20.5% | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 20.1% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 19.7% | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 19.3% | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 18.9% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 18.5% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 18.2% | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 17.8% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 17.4% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 17.1% | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 16.7% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 16.4% | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 16.0% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 15.7% | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 15.3% | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 15.0% | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 14.6% | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 14.2% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 13.9% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 13.5% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 13.2% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 12.8% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 12.5% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 12.2% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 11.8% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 11.5% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 11.2% | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 10.9% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 10.6% | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 10.3% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 10.1% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 9.8% | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 9.5% | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 9.3% | -2.7% |
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of compared with similar countries
- Korea, Democratic People's Republic of's 9.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 11.2%, 83% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Korea, Democratic People's Republic of's 9.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.0%, 3.1× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.8% | 21.2% | 24.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.1% | 17.4% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.5% | 13.9% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.0% | 10.6% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.8% | 9.3% | 10.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
More health data for Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 767 deaths (2100)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,462 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.031 units per person (2025)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2022)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.6995 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6303 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of was 9.3% 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 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.3% in 2024.
- How does Korea, Democratic People's Republic of rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Korea, Democratic People's Republic of ranks 39th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 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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