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Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Lesotho

Underweight in adults in Lesotho in 2024 — 8.7%. Ranked 156 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 3.6 pp.

2024 8.7% +0.1 pp vs 2023
World rank 156of 199
Period maximum 12.3%1980
Period minimum 7.9%2015

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Lesotho, 1980–20246810121419801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 12.3%1981: 12.2%1982: 12%1983: 11.9%1984: 11.7%1985: 11.5%1986: 11.3%1987: 11.1%1988: 11%1989: 10.8%1990: 10.7%1991: 10.5%1992: 10.4%1993: 10.2%1994: 10.1%1995: 10%1996: 9.8%1997: 9.7%1998: 9.6%1999: 9.4%2000: 9.3%2001: 9.2%2002: 9.1%2003: 8.9%2004: 8.8%2005: 8.7%2006: 8.6%2007: 8.5%2008: 8.4%2009: 8.3%2010: 8.2%2011: 8.1%2012: 8%2013: 7.9%2014: 7.9%2015: 7.9%2016: 7.9%2017: 7.9%2018: 8%2019: 8.1%2020: 8.2%2021: 8.3%2022: 8.4%2023: 8.6%2024: 8.7%
Change over the period: −3.6 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Lesotho 8.7%
World computed 7.5%
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 12.1%
Southern Africa computed 6%
Lower-middle-income countries computed 10.1%
Underweight in adults — Lesotho, by year Lesotho All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 8.7 +0.1 pp
2023 8.6 +0.1 pp
2022 8.4 +0.1 pp
2021 8.3 +0.1 pp
2020 8.2 +0.1 pp
2019 8.1 +0.1 pp
2018 8 +0.1 pp
2017 7.9 +0 pp
2016 7.9 +0 pp
2015 7.9 −0 pp
2014 7.9 −0 pp
2013 7.9 −0.1 pp
2012 8 −0.1 pp
2011 8.1 −0.1 pp
2010 8.2 −0.1 pp
2009 8.3 −0.1 pp
2008 8.4 −0.1 pp
2007 8.5 −0.1 pp
2006 8.6 −0.1 pp
2005 8.7 −0.1 pp
2004 8.8 −0.1 pp
2003 8.9 −0.1 pp
2002 9.1 −0.1 pp
2001 9.2 −0.1 pp
2000 9.3 −0.1 pp
1999 9.4 −0.1 pp
1998 9.6 −0.1 pp
1997 9.7 −0.1 pp
1996 9.8 −0.1 pp
1995 10 −0.1 pp
1994 10.1 −0.1 pp
1993 10.2 −0.1 pp
1992 10.4 −0.1 pp
1991 10.5 −0.1 pp
1990 10.7 −0.2 pp
1989 10.8 −0.2 pp
1988 11 −0.2 pp
1987 11.1 −0.2 pp
1986 11.3 −0.2 pp
1985 11.5 −0.2 pp
1984 11.7 −0.2 pp
1983 11.9 −0.2 pp
1982 12 −0.2 pp
1981 12.2 −0.2 pp
1980 12.3 —

Southern Africa, 2024

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

SZ Eswatini 4.6 ZA South Africa 5.3 LS Lesotho 8.7 BW Botswana 12.2 NA Namibia 12.6
Full table for all countries

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 Lesotho

Nutrition Obesity in adults

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

Lesotho by year Nutrition Stunting in children

The share of children under five whose height is markedly below the norm for their age.

Lesotho by year Nutrition Tobacco use prevalence

The share of adults who use tobacco in any form.

Lesotho by year Nutrition Access to clean water

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

Lesotho by year Nutrition Access to basic sanitation

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

Lesotho by year
All indicators for Lesotho