Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 4.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
4.3%
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
78th
of 198 countries
All-time high
7.1%
in 1980
All-time low
4.0%
in 2007
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea stood at 4.3%.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea peaked at 7.1% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2007.
Republic of Korea ranks 78th 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 Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 7.1% | — |
| 1981 | 6.9% | -2.7% |
| 1982 | 6.7% | -2.8% |
| 1983 | 6.5% | -3.0% |
| 1984 | 6.3% | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 6.1% | -3.3% |
| 1986 | 5.9% | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 5.7% | -3.1% |
| 1988 | 5.5% | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 5.4% | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 5.2% | -3.1% |
| 1991 | 5.1% | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 4.9% | -2.9% |
| 1993 | 4.8% | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 4.6% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 4.5% | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 4.3% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 4.3% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 4.2% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 4.2% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 4.1% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 4.1% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 4.1% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 4.0% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 4.0% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 4.0% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 4.0% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 4.1% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 4.1% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 4.1% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 4.1% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 4.1% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 4.2% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 4.2% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 4.3% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 4.3% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 4.3% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.2% | 5.4% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.6% | 4.2% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.1% | 4.0% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.1% | 4.0% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.3% | 4.2% | 4.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 75 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 4.7% compare
- 76 Eswatini 4.7% compare
- 77 Saudi Arabia 4.6% compare
- 79 Algeria 4.3% compare
- 80 Dominican Republic 4.3% compare
- 81 Antigua and Barbuda 4.2% compare
More health data for Republic of Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 15-19, male, annual growth rate 0.1759 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.023 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate -4.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0251 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea was 4.3% 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 Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 7.1% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2007.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Republic of Korea ranks 78th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Republic of Korea 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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