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Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — European Union

Underweight in adults in the European Union in 2024 — 2.6%. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 0.5 pp.

2024 2.6% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank —
Period maximum 3.1%1980
Period minimum 2.3%2012

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — European Union, 1980–20242.22.42.62.833.219801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 3.1%1981: 3%1982: 3%1983: 2.9%1984: 2.9%1985: 2.9%1986: 2.8%1987: 2.8%1988: 2.8%1989: 2.8%1990: 2.7%1991: 2.7%1992: 2.7%1993: 2.7%1994: 2.7%1995: 2.6%1996: 2.6%1997: 2.6%1998: 2.6%1999: 2.6%2000: 2.5%2001: 2.5%2002: 2.5%2003: 2.5%2004: 2.4%2005: 2.4%2006: 2.4%2007: 2.4%2008: 2.4%2009: 2.3%2010: 2.3%2011: 2.3%2012: 2.3%2013: 2.3%2014: 2.3%2015: 2.4%2016: 2.4%2017: 2.4%2018: 2.4%2019: 2.4%2020: 2.4%2021: 2.5%2022: 2.5%2023: 2.5%2024: 2.6%
Change over the period: −0.5 pp Annual average: -0.01 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

European Union 2.6%
World computed 7.5%
Underweight in adults — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 2.6 +0 pp
2023 2.5 +0 pp
2022 2.5 +0 pp
2021 2.5 +0 pp
2020 2.4 +0 pp
2019 2.4 +0 pp
2018 2.4 +0 pp
2017 2.4 +0 pp
2016 2.4 +0 pp
2015 2.4 +0 pp
2014 2.3 +0 pp
2013 2.3 +0 pp
2012 2.3 −0 pp
2011 2.3 −0 pp
2010 2.3 −0 pp
2009 2.3 −0 pp
2008 2.4 −0 pp
2007 2.4 −0 pp
2006 2.4 −0 pp
2005 2.4 −0 pp
2004 2.4 −0 pp
2003 2.5 −0 pp
2002 2.5 −0 pp
2001 2.5 −0 pp
2000 2.5 −0 pp
1999 2.6 −0 pp
1998 2.6 −0 pp
1997 2.6 −0 pp
1996 2.6 −0 pp
1995 2.6 −0 pp
1994 2.7 −0 pp
1993 2.7 −0 pp
1992 2.7 −0 pp
1991 2.7 −0 pp
1990 2.7 −0 pp
1989 2.8 −0 pp
1988 2.8 −0 pp
1987 2.8 −0 pp
1986 2.8 −0 pp
1985 2.9 −0 pp
1984 2.9 −0 pp
1983 2.9 −0 pp
1982 3 −0 pp
1981 3 −0 pp
1980 3.1 —

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.

Other indicators for the European Union

Nutrition Obesity in adults

The share of adults with a body mass index of 30 and above. The WHO series runs from 1980.

European Union by year Nutrition Prevalence of undernourishment

The share of the population whose calorie intake is below the minimum requirement.

European Union by year Nutrition Tobacco use prevalence

The share of adults who use tobacco in any form.

European Union by year Nutrition Access to clean water

The share of the population with access to basic sources of drinking water.

European Union by year Nutrition Access to basic sanitation

The share of the population with access to improved sanitation and hygiene conditions.

European Union by year
All indicators for the European Union