Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — India

Underweight in adults in India in 2024 — 12.4%. Ranked 179 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 39.7 pp.

2024 12.4% −0.7 pp vs 2023
World rank 179of 199
Period maximum 52%1980
Period minimum 12.4%2024

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — India, 1980–2024020406019801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 52%1981: 51.1%1982: 50.1%1983: 49.1%1984: 48.1%1985: 47.1%1986: 46.1%1987: 45.2%1988: 44.2%1989: 43.3%1990: 42.5%1991: 41.6%1992: 40.8%1993: 40%1994: 39.3%1995: 38.5%1996: 37.8%1997: 37%1998: 36.2%1999: 35.3%2000: 34.5%2001: 33.6%2002: 32.7%2003: 31.8%2004: 30.9%2005: 30%2006: 29%2007: 28.1%2008: 27.1%2009: 26.1%2010: 25%2011: 24%2012: 23%2013: 22%2014: 20.9%2015: 20%2016: 19%2017: 18.1%2018: 17.2%2019: 16.3%2020: 15.5%2021: 14.6%2022: 13.9%2023: 13.1%2024: 12.4%
Change over the period: −39.7 pp Annual average: -0.9 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

India 12.4%
World computed 7.5%
South Asia computed 11.5%
Southern Asia computed 11.1%
Underweight in adults — India, by year India All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 12.4 −0.7 pp
2023 13.1 −0.8 pp
2022 13.9 −0.8 pp
2021 14.6 −0.8 pp
2020 15.5 −0.8 pp
2019 16.3 −0.9 pp
2018 17.2 −0.9 pp
2017 18.1 −0.9 pp
2016 19 −1 pp
2015 20 −1 pp
2014 20.9 −1 pp
2013 22 −1 pp
2012 23 −1 pp
2011 24 −1 pp
2010 25 −1 pp
2009 26.1 −1 pp
2008 27.1 −1 pp
2007 28.1 −1 pp
2006 29 −0.9 pp
2005 30 −0.9 pp
2004 30.9 −0.9 pp
2003 31.8 −0.9 pp
2002 32.7 −0.9 pp
2001 33.6 −0.9 pp
2000 34.5 −0.9 pp
1999 35.3 −0.8 pp
1998 36.2 −0.8 pp
1997 37 −0.8 pp
1996 37.8 −0.8 pp
1995 38.5 −0.8 pp
1994 39.3 −0.8 pp
1993 40 −0.8 pp
1992 40.8 −0.8 pp
1991 41.6 −0.8 pp
1990 42.5 −0.9 pp
1989 43.3 −0.9 pp
1988 44.2 −0.9 pp
1987 45.2 −0.9 pp
1986 46.1 −1 pp
1985 47.1 −1 pp
1984 48.1 −1 pp
1983 49.1 −1 pp
1982 50.1 −1 pp
1981 51.1 −1 pp
1980 52

Southern 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.