Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 9.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
9.5%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
38th
of 198 countries
All-time high
18.4%
in 1980
All-time low
9.4%
in 2019
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Nigeria, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Nigeria stood at 9.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Nigeria peaked at 18.4% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 2019.
Nigeria ranks 38th of 198 countries on this measure, 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 18.4% | — |
| 1981 | 18.2% | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 17.9% | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 17.6% | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 17.3% | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 17.1% | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 16.8% | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 16.5% | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 16.3% | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 16.0% | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 15.7% | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 15.5% | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 15.2% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 14.9% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 14.7% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 14.4% | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 14.1% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 13.9% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 13.6% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 13.3% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 13.0% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 12.7% | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 12.4% | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 12.1% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 11.8% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 11.5% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 11.2% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 10.9% | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 10.7% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 10.4% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 10.2% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 10.0% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 9.8% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 9.7% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 9.6% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 9.5% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 9.5% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 9.4% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 9.4% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 9.4% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 9.4% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 9.4% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 9.5% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 9.5% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 9.5% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17.2% | 16.0% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.5% | 13.3% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.7% | 10.4% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.7% | 9.4% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.5% | 9.4% | 9.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More health data for Nigeria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,301 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 257,921 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 14 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0711 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Nigeria?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Nigeria was 9.5% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 2019.
- How does Nigeria rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Nigeria ranks 38th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria 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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