Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Ethiopia

Underweight in adults in Ethiopia in 2024 — 21.8%. Ranked 198 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 7.2 pp.

2024 21.8% −0.3 pp vs 2023
World rank 198of 199
Period maximum 29%1980
Period minimum 21.8%2024

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Ethiopia, 1980–202420222426283019801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 29%1981: 29%1982: 29%1983: 28.9%1984: 28.9%1985: 28.9%1986: 28.8%1987: 28.8%1988: 28.8%1989: 28.7%1990: 28.7%1991: 28.6%1992: 28.6%1993: 28.5%1994: 28.5%1995: 28.5%1996: 28.4%1997: 28.4%1998: 28.3%1999: 28.2%2000: 28.1%2001: 28%2002: 27.9%2003: 27.7%2004: 27.5%2005: 27.4%2006: 27.1%2007: 26.9%2008: 26.7%2009: 26.4%2010: 26.1%2011: 25.7%2012: 25.4%2013: 25.1%2014: 24.7%2015: 24.4%2016: 24%2017: 23.7%2018: 23.4%2019: 23.1%2020: 22.8%2021: 22.6%2022: 22.3%2023: 22.1%2024: 21.8%
Change over the period: −7.2 pp Annual average: -0.16 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Ethiopia 21.8%
World computed 7.5%
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 12.1%
Eastern Africa computed 15.1%
Low-income countries computed 13.8%
Underweight in adults — Ethiopia, by year Ethiopia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 21.8 −0.3 pp
2023 22.1 −0.3 pp
2022 22.3 −0.3 pp
2021 22.6 −0.3 pp
2020 22.8 −0.3 pp
2019 23.1 −0.3 pp
2018 23.4 −0.3 pp
2017 23.7 −0.3 pp
2016 24 −0.3 pp
2015 24.4 −0.3 pp
2014 24.7 −0.4 pp
2013 25.1 −0.4 pp
2012 25.4 −0.3 pp
2011 25.7 −0.3 pp
2010 26.1 −0.3 pp
2009 26.4 −0.3 pp
2008 26.7 −0.3 pp
2007 26.9 −0.2 pp
2006 27.1 −0.2 pp
2005 27.4 −0.2 pp
2004 27.5 −0.2 pp
2003 27.7 −0.2 pp
2002 27.9 −0.1 pp
2001 28 −0.1 pp
2000 28.1 −0.1 pp
1999 28.2 −0.1 pp
1998 28.3 −0.1 pp
1997 28.4 −0.1 pp
1996 28.4 −0 pp
1995 28.5 −0 pp
1994 28.5 −0 pp
1993 28.5 −0 pp
1992 28.6 −0 pp
1991 28.6 −0.1 pp
1990 28.7 −0 pp
1989 28.7 −0 pp
1988 28.8 −0 pp
1987 28.8 −0 pp
1986 28.8 −0 pp
1985 28.9 −0 pp
1984 28.9 −0 pp
1983 28.9 −0 pp
1982 29 −0 pp
1981 29 −0 pp
1980 29

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.