Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — High-income countries

Underweight in adults in high-income countries in 2024 — 3.3%. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 0.6 pp.

2024 3.3% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 4%1980
Period minimum 3.1%2007

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — High-income countries, 1980–202433.33.53.8419801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 4%1981: 3.9%1982: 3.8%1983: 3.7%1984: 3.7%1985: 3.6%1986: 3.6%1987: 3.5%1988: 3.4%1989: 3.4%1990: 3.3%1991: 3.3%1992: 3.3%1993: 3.2%1994: 3.2%1995: 3.2%1996: 3.2%1997: 3.1%1998: 3.1%1999: 3.1%2000: 3.1%2001: 3.1%2002: 3.1%2003: 3.1%2004: 3.1%2005: 3.1%2006: 3.1%2007: 3.1%2008: 3.1%2009: 3.1%2010: 3.1%2011: 3.1%2012: 3.1%2013: 3.1%2014: 3.1%2015: 3.1%2016: 3.1%2017: 3.1%2018: 3.2%2019: 3.2%2020: 3.2%2021: 3.2%2022: 3.3%2023: 3.3%2024: 3.3%
Change over the period: −0.6 pp Annual average: -0.01 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: High-income countries

High-income countries 3.3%
World computed 7.5%
Underweight in adults — High-income countries, by year High-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 3.3 +0 pp
2023 3.3 +0 pp
2022 3.3 +0 pp
2021 3.2 +0 pp
2020 3.2 +0 pp
2019 3.2 +0 pp
2018 3.2 +0 pp
2017 3.1 +0 pp
2016 3.1 +0 pp
2015 3.1 +0 pp
2014 3.1 +0 pp
2013 3.1 +0 pp
2012 3.1 +0 pp
2011 3.1 +0 pp
2010 3.1 +0 pp
2009 3.1 +0 pp
2008 3.1 +0 pp
2007 3.1 −0 pp
2006 3.1 −0 pp
2005 3.1 −0 pp
2004 3.1 −0 pp
2003 3.1 −0 pp
2002 3.1 −0 pp
2001 3.1 −0 pp
2000 3.1 −0 pp
1999 3.1 −0 pp
1998 3.1 −0 pp
1997 3.1 −0 pp
1996 3.2 −0 pp
1995 3.2 −0 pp
1994 3.2 −0 pp
1993 3.2 −0 pp
1992 3.3 −0 pp
1991 3.3 −0 pp
1990 3.3 −0 pp
1989 3.4 −0.1 pp
1988 3.4 −0.1 pp
1987 3.5 −0.1 pp
1986 3.6 −0.1 pp
1985 3.6 −0.1 pp
1984 3.7 −0.1 pp
1983 3.7 −0.1 pp
1982 3.8 −0.1 pp
1981 3.9 −0.1 pp
1980 4

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.