Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in South Africa
South Africa: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 5.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
5.4%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
69th
of 198 countries
All-time high
11.9%
in 1980
All-time low
5.3%
in 2021
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in South Africa, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in South Africa stood at 5.4%.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in South Africa peaked at 11.9% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2021.
That places South Africa 69th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 11.9% | — |
| 1981 | 11.6% | -2.2% |
| 1982 | 11.4% | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 11.1% | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 10.8% | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 10.6% | -2.4% |
| 1986 | 10.3% | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 10.1% | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 9.8% | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 9.6% | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 9.4% | -2.4% |
| 1991 | 9.2% | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 8.9% | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 8.7% | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 8.5% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 8.2% | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 8.0% | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 7.8% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 7.6% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 7.5% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 7.3% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 7.2% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 7.1% | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 7.0% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 6.8% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 6.6% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 6.4% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 6.3% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 6.1% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 6.0% | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 5.9% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 5.7% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 5.6% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 5.4% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 5.4% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 5.4% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 5.3% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 5.3% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 5.3% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 5.4% | +0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.0%, 1.8× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.7%, 55% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.7% | 9.6% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.4% | 7.5% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 6.1% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 5.4% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 66 Sierra Leone 5.8% compare
- 67 Morocco 5.5% compare
- 68 Malaysia 5.5% compare
- 70 Cape Verde 5.1% compare
- 71 Tajikistan 4.8% compare
- 72 Trinidad and Tobago 4.8% compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % 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 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % 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 South Africa?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in South Africa was 5.4% 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.9% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- South Africa ranks 69th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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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