Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Somalia
Somalia: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 19.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
19.5%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
5th
of 198 countries
All-time high
21.3%
in 1980
All-time low
18.9%
in 2015
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Somalia, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 19.5% for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Somalia peaked at 21.3% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 18.9%, in 2015.
That places Somalia 5th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 21.3% | — |
| 1981 | 21.2% | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 21.1% | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 21.1% | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 21.0% | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 20.9% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 20.8% | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 20.8% | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 20.7% | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 20.6% | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 20.5% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 20.4% | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 20.4% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 20.3% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 20.3% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 20.2% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 20.2% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 20.2% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 20.1% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 20.1% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 20.0% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 20.0% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 19.9% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 19.9% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 19.8% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 19.7% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 19.7% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 19.6% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 19.4% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 19.3% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 19.1% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 19.1% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 19.0% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 19.0% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 18.9% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 18.9% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 18.9% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 19.0% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 19.0% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 19.1% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 19.2% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 19.3% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 19.4% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 19.4% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 19.5% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 20.9% | 20.6% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.3% | 20.1% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.7% | 19.3% | 20.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.0% | 18.9% | 19.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.3% | 19.2% | 19.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 2 Ethiopia 21.8% compare
- 3 Central African Republic 20.8% compare
- 4 Timor-Leste 20.7% compare
- 6 Niger 19.3% compare
- 7 Madagascar 17.8% compare
- 8 Senegal 17.2% compare
More health data for Somalia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.41 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8681 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 987.7 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 32,421 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 182 (2013)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 2.39 % 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 0.0897 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 2.38 % 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 Somalia?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Somalia was 19.5% 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.3% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.9% in 2015.
- How does Somalia rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Somalia ranks 5th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Somalia 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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