Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 2.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
2.7%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
113th
of 198 countries
All-time high
5.0%
in 1980
All-time low
2.6%
in 2019
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Papua New Guinea, 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 Papua New Guinea is 2.7%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Papua New Guinea peaked at 5.0% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2019.
Papua New Guinea ranks 113th 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 Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.0% | — |
| 1981 | 4.9% | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 4.8% | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 4.7% | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 4.6% | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 4.5% | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 4.4% | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 4.3% | -2.3% |
| 1988 | 4.2% | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 4.1% | -2.3% |
| 1990 | 4.0% | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 3.9% | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 3.8% | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 3.7% | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 3.7% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 3.6% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 3.5% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 3.4% | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 3.4% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 3.3% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 3.2% | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 3.2% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 3.1% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 3.0% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 3.0% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 2.9% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 2.9% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 2.8% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 2.8% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 2.7% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 2.7% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 2.6% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 2.6% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 2.7% | +0.5% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 2.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.5%, 36% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 2.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.0%, 90% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.5% | 4.1% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.6% | 3.3% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 2.8% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 2.6% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.7% | 2.6% | 2.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More health data for Papua New Guinea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3741 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,127 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,501 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.27 % 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 0.0555 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.2621 % 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 Papua New Guinea?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Papua New Guinea was 2.7% 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 Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.0% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2019.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 113th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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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