Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Australia

Underweight in adults in Australia in 2024 — 1.9%. Ranked 29 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 1.6 pp.

2024 1.9% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank 29of 199
Period maximum 3.5%1980
Period minimum 1.6%2009

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Australia, 1980–20241.522.533.5419801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 3.5%1981: 3.4%1982: 3.2%1983: 3.1%1984: 3%1985: 2.8%1986: 2.7%1987: 2.6%1988: 2.5%1989: 2.4%1990: 2.3%1991: 2.2%1992: 2.1%1993: 2.1%1994: 2%1995: 1.9%1996: 1.9%1997: 1.8%1998: 1.8%1999: 1.7%2000: 1.7%2001: 1.7%2002: 1.7%2003: 1.6%2004: 1.6%2005: 1.6%2006: 1.6%2007: 1.6%2008: 1.6%2009: 1.6%2010: 1.6%2011: 1.6%2012: 1.6%2013: 1.6%2014: 1.6%2015: 1.7%2016: 1.7%2017: 1.7%2018: 1.7%2019: 1.7%2020: 1.8%2021: 1.8%2022: 1.8%2023: 1.9%2024: 1.9%
Change over the period: −1.6 pp Annual average: -0.04 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Australia

Australia 1.9%
World computed 7.5%
East Asia & Pacific computed 6.6%
High-income countries computed 3.3%
Underweight in adults — Australia, by year Australia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 1.9 +0 pp
2023 1.9 +0 pp
2022 1.8 +0 pp
2021 1.8 +0 pp
2020 1.8 +0 pp
2019 1.7 +0 pp
2018 1.7 +0 pp
2017 1.7 +0 pp
2016 1.7 +0 pp
2015 1.7 +0 pp
2014 1.6 +0 pp
2013 1.6 +0 pp
2012 1.6 +0 pp
2011 1.6 +0 pp
2010 1.6 +0 pp
2009 1.6 −0 pp
2008 1.6 −0 pp
2007 1.6 −0 pp
2006 1.6 −0 pp
2005 1.6 −0 pp
2004 1.6 −0 pp
2003 1.6 −0 pp
2002 1.7 −0 pp
2001 1.7 −0 pp
2000 1.7 −0 pp
1999 1.7 −0 pp
1998 1.8 −0 pp
1997 1.8 −0 pp
1996 1.9 −0.1 pp
1995 1.9 −0.1 pp
1994 2 −0.1 pp
1993 2.1 −0.1 pp
1992 2.1 −0.1 pp
1991 2.2 −0.1 pp
1990 2.3 −0.1 pp
1989 2.4 −0.1 pp
1988 2.5 −0.1 pp
1987 2.6 −0.1 pp
1986 2.7 −0.1 pp
1985 2.8 −0.1 pp
1984 3 −0.1 pp
1983 3.1 −0.1 pp
1982 3.2 −0.1 pp
1981 3.4 −0.1 pp
1980 3.5

Australia and New Zealand, 2024

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

NZ New Zealand 1.5 AU Australia 1.9

About the indicator

The share of people aged 18 and over with a body mass index below 18.5 kg/m². The indicator moves in the direction opposite to obesity, and together they describe what is called the double burden of malnutrition: in many middle-income countries both shares are high at once — underweight persists in the countryside, obesity has already come to the city. The largest values are given by South Asia and the Horn of Africa.

Important: The aggregate by group is weighted by the whole population rather than the adult one. Underweight in adults and undernourishment are different indicators: the first measures the body, the second the intake of calories.

Source: Global Health Observatory (WHO), license CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.