Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Zambia
Zambia: Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 8.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Underweight among adults, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Zambia, 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 Zambia is 8.1%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Zambia peaked at 16.3% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 8.1%, in 2024.
Zambia ranks 47th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 16.3% | — |
| 1981 | 16.2% | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 16.0% | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 15.8% | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 15.6% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 15.5% | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 15.3% | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 15.1% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 15.0% | -1.1% |
| 1989 | 14.8% | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 14.6% | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 14.5% | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 14.3% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 14.2% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 14.0% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 13.9% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 13.7% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 13.5% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 13.4% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 13.2% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 13.0% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 12.8% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 12.6% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 12.4% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 12.1% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 11.9% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 11.6% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 11.4% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 11.1% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 10.8% | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 10.6% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 10.3% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 10.0% | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 9.8% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 9.5% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 9.3% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 9.1% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 8.9% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 8.7% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 8.6% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 8.5% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 8.4% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 8.3% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 8.2% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 8.1% | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.6% | 14.8% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.9% | 13.2% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.0% | 10.8% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 8.6% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.3% | 8.1% | 8.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % 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 Zambia?
- Underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Zambia was 8.1% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 16.3% in 1980.
- What is the lowest underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.1% in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Zambia ranks 47th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is underweight among adults, bmi < 18.5 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.
Download this data
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