Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — China

Underweight in adults in China in 2024 — 4.7%. Ranked 122 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 9.3 pp.

2024 4.7% −0.1 pp vs 2023
World rank 122of 199
Period maximum 14%1980
Period minimum 4.7%2024

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — China, 1980–202405101519801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 14%1981: 13.6%1982: 13.3%1983: 13%1984: 12.7%1985: 12.4%1986: 12%1987: 11.7%1988: 11.4%1989: 11.1%1990: 10.7%1991: 10.4%1992: 10.1%1993: 9.9%1994: 9.6%1995: 9.4%1996: 9.1%1997: 8.9%1998: 8.7%1999: 8.6%2000: 8.4%2001: 8.2%2002: 8.1%2003: 8%2004: 7.8%2005: 7.7%2006: 7.5%2007: 7.4%2008: 7.2%2009: 7%2010: 6.9%2011: 6.7%2012: 6.5%2013: 6.3%2014: 6.2%2015: 6%2016: 5.8%2017: 5.6%2018: 5.5%2019: 5.3%2020: 5.2%2021: 5%2022: 4.9%2023: 4.8%2024: 4.7%
Change over the period: −9.3 pp Annual average: -0.21 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

China 4.7%
World computed 7.5%
East Asia & Pacific computed 6.6%
Eastern Asia computed 5.3%
Underweight in adults — China, by year China All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 4.7 −0.1 pp
2023 4.8 −0.1 pp
2022 4.9 −0.1 pp
2021 5 −0.1 pp
2020 5.2 −0.1 pp
2019 5.3 −0.2 pp
2018 5.5 −0.2 pp
2017 5.6 −0.2 pp
2016 5.8 −0.2 pp
2015 6 −0.2 pp
2014 6.2 −0.2 pp
2013 6.3 −0.2 pp
2012 6.5 −0.2 pp
2011 6.7 −0.2 pp
2010 6.9 −0.2 pp
2009 7 −0.2 pp
2008 7.2 −0.2 pp
2007 7.4 −0.2 pp
2006 7.5 −0.2 pp
2005 7.7 −0.1 pp
2004 7.8 −0.1 pp
2003 8 −0.1 pp
2002 8.1 −0.1 pp
2001 8.2 −0.2 pp
2000 8.4 −0.2 pp
1999 8.6 −0.2 pp
1998 8.7 −0.2 pp
1997 8.9 −0.2 pp
1996 9.1 −0.2 pp
1995 9.4 −0.2 pp
1994 9.6 −0.3 pp
1993 9.9 −0.3 pp
1992 10.1 −0.3 pp
1991 10.4 −0.3 pp
1990 10.7 −0.3 pp
1989 11.1 −0.3 pp
1988 11.4 −0.3 pp
1987 11.7 −0.3 pp
1986 12 −0.3 pp
1985 12.4 −0.3 pp
1984 12.7 −0.3 pp
1983 13 −0.3 pp
1982 13.3 −0.3 pp
1981 13.6 −0.3 pp
1980 14

Eastern Asia, 2024

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

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.