Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 1.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.3%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
181st
of 198 countries
All-time high
3.2%
in 1980
All-time low
1.3%
in 2021
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand is 1.3%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in New Zealand peaked at 3.2% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 2021.
New Zealand ranks 181st of 198 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.2% | — |
| 1981 | 3.1% | -3.7% |
| 1982 | 3.0% | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 2.9% | -3.9% |
| 1984 | 2.8% | -3.9% |
| 1985 | 2.6% | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 2.5% | -4.2% |
| 1987 | 2.4% | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 2.3% | -3.9% |
| 1989 | 2.2% | -3.9% |
| 1990 | 2.2% | -4.0% |
| 1991 | 2.1% | -4.0% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | -4.0% |
| 1993 | 1.9% | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 1.8% | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 1.8% | -3.8% |
| 1996 | 1.7% | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 1.6% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 1.6% | -3.1% |
| 1999 | 1.5% | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 1.5% | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 1.4% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 1.3% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 1.3% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 1.3% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 1.3% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 1.3% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 1.3% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 1.3% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.3% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 1.3% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.3% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 1.3% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 1.3% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 1.3% | +0.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 1.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.9%, 67% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 1.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.0%, 43% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.7% | 2.2% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,116 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 33 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.1187 % 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 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.018 % 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 New Zealand?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in New Zealand was 1.3% 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 2021.
- How does New Zealand rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- New Zealand ranks 181st out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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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