Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 8.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
8.8%
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
43rd
of 198 countries
All-time high
12.2%
in 1980
All-time low
8.0%
in 2016
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Lesotho, 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 Lesotho is 8.8%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Lesotho peaked at 12.2% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 8.0%, in 2016.
That places Lesotho 43rd 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 Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 12.2% | — |
| 1981 | 12.1% | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 11.9% | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 11.8% | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 11.6% | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 11.4% | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 11.2% | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 11.1% | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 10.9% | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 10.8% | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 10.6% | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 10.5% | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 10.3% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 10.2% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 10.1% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 10.0% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 9.9% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 9.7% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 9.6% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 9.5% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 9.4% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 9.3% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 9.2% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 9.1% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 9.0% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 8.9% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 8.8% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 8.7% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 8.5% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 8.4% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 8.3% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 8.2% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 8.1% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 8.1% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 8.0% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 8.0% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 8.0% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 8.1% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 8.2% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 8.3% | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 8.4% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 8.5% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 8.6% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 8.8% | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.5% | 10.8% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.0% | 9.5% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.9% | 8.5% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.1% | 8.0% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.5% | 8.3% | 8.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 40 Equatorial Guinea 9.3% compare
- 41 Japan 9.1% compare
- 42 Rwanda 9.0% compare
- 44 Indonesia 8.7% compare
- 45 Mauritania 8.4% compare
- 46 Lao People's Democratic Republic 8.2% compare
More health data for Lesotho
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4669 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,227 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 382 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 5.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 8.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0215 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Lesotho?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Lesotho was 8.8% 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 12.2% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.0% in 2016.
- How does Lesotho rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Lesotho ranks 43rd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho 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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