Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 4.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
4.6%
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
77th
of 198 countries
All-time high
4.7%
in 2009
All-time low
3.8%
in 1995
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Saudi Arabia, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 4.6% for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Saudi Arabia peaked at 4.7% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 1995.
Saudi Arabia ranks 77th of 198 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4.4% | — |
| 1981 | 4.3% | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 4.3% | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 4.2% | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 4.2% | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 4.1% | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 4.1% | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 4.0% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 4.0% | -1.1% |
| 1989 | 3.9% | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 3.9% | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 3.9% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 3.9% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 3.8% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 3.8% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 3.8% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 3.8% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 3.8% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 3.8% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 3.9% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 4.0% | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 4.2% | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 4.4% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 4.5% | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 4.6% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 4.7% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 4.7% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 4.7% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 4.7% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 4.7% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 4.7% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 4.6% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 4.5% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 4.4% | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 4.2% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 4.3% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 4.5% | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 4.6% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 4.6% | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.5% | 4.2% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 483.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 5.31 % 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 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 5.38 % 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Saudi Arabia was 4.6% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.7% in 2009.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 1995.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 77th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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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