Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Iran

Underweight in adults in Iran in 2024 — 3.7%. Ranked 105 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 6 pp.

2024 3.7% −0.1 pp vs 2023
World rank 105of 199
Period maximum 9.7%1980
Period minimum 3.7%2024

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Iran, 1980–202424681019801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 9.7%1981: 9.5%1982: 9.3%1983: 9.2%1984: 9%1985: 8.8%1986: 8.6%1987: 8.5%1988: 8.3%1989: 8.1%1990: 8%1991: 7.8%1992: 7.7%1993: 7.5%1994: 7.4%1995: 7.2%1996: 7.1%1997: 7%1998: 6.8%1999: 6.7%2000: 6.5%2001: 6.4%2002: 6.3%2003: 6.1%2004: 6%2005: 5.9%2006: 5.7%2007: 5.6%2008: 5.5%2009: 5.4%2010: 5.3%2011: 5.2%2012: 5.1%2013: 4.9%2014: 4.8%2015: 4.7%2016: 4.6%2017: 4.4%2018: 4.3%2019: 4.2%2020: 4.1%2021: 4%2022: 3.9%2023: 3.8%2024: 3.7%
Change over the period: −6 pp Annual average: -0.14 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Iran 3.7%
World computed 7.5%
Southern Asia computed 11.1%
Underweight in adults — Iran, by year Iran All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 3.7 −0.1 pp
2023 3.8 −0.1 pp
2022 3.9 −0.1 pp
2021 4 −0.1 pp
2020 4.1 −0.1 pp
2019 4.2 −0.1 pp
2018 4.3 −0.1 pp
2017 4.4 −0.1 pp
2016 4.6 −0.1 pp
2015 4.7 −0.1 pp
2014 4.8 −0.1 pp
2013 4.9 −0.1 pp
2012 5.1 −0.1 pp
2011 5.2 −0.1 pp
2010 5.3 −0.1 pp
2009 5.4 −0.1 pp
2008 5.5 −0.1 pp
2007 5.6 −0.1 pp
2006 5.7 −0.1 pp
2005 5.9 −0.1 pp
2004 6 −0.1 pp
2003 6.1 −0.1 pp
2002 6.3 −0.1 pp
2001 6.4 −0.1 pp
2000 6.5 −0.1 pp
1999 6.7 −0.1 pp
1998 6.8 −0.1 pp
1997 7 −0.1 pp
1996 7.1 −0.1 pp
1995 7.2 −0.1 pp
1994 7.4 −0.1 pp
1993 7.5 −0.1 pp
1992 7.7 −0.2 pp
1991 7.8 −0.2 pp
1990 8 −0.2 pp
1989 8.1 −0.2 pp
1988 8.3 −0.2 pp
1987 8.5 −0.2 pp
1986 8.6 −0.2 pp
1985 8.8 −0.2 pp
1984 9 −0.2 pp
1983 9.2 −0.2 pp
1982 9.3 −0.2 pp
1981 9.5 −0.2 pp
1980 9.7

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.