Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Western Pacific (WHO region)
Western Pacific (WHO region): Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 5.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
5.4%
Change on year
down 2.4%
Rank
7th
of 11 groups
All-time high
14.8%
in 1980
All-time low
5.4%
in 2024
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Western Pacific (WHO region), 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
Western Pacific (WHO region) recorded 5.4% for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.4% on the previous year and down 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Western Pacific (WHO region) peaked at 14.8% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 2024.
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 Western Pacific (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 14.8% | — |
| 1981 | 14.5% | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 14.3% | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 14.1% | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 13.8% | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 13.6% | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 13.4% | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 13.1% | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 12.8% | -2.1% |
| 1989 | 12.5% | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 12.3% | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 12.0% | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 11.8% | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 11.5% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 11.2% | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 11.0% | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 10.8% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 10.5% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 10.3% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 10.2% | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 10.0% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 9.8% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 9.7% | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 9.5% | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 9.3% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 9.2% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 9.0% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 8.8% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 8.4% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 8.2% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 7.5% | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 7.3% | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 7.1% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 6.8% | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 6.6% | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 6.2% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 5.9% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 5.7% | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 5.6% | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 5.4% | -2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13.7% | 12.5% | 14.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.2% | 10.2% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.2% | 8.4% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 6.2% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.7% | 5.4% | 6.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Western Pacific (WHO region)
- 4 Timor-Leste 20.7% compare
- 5 Somalia 19.5% compare
- 6 Niger 19.3% compare
- 7 Madagascar 17.8% compare
- 8 Senegal 17.2% compare
- 9 South Sudan 17.2% compare
- 10 Sudan 16.7% compare
More health data for Western Pacific (WHO region)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 159,013 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 5,464 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 428 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 78,782 (2025)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 214 (2025)
- Number of under-five deaths, annual growth rate -5.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of neonatal deaths, annual growth rate -4.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 228.55 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -73.21 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Western Pacific (WHO region)?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Western Pacific (WHO region) 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 Western Pacific (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 14.8% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Western Pacific (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 2024.
- How does Western Pacific (WHO region) rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Western Pacific (WHO region) ranks 7th out of 11 groups with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Western Pacific (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Western Pacific (WHO region) 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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