Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Namibia

Underweight in adults in Namibia in 2024 — 12.6%. Ranked 182 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 8.4 pp.

2024 12.6% −0.1 pp vs 2023
World rank 182of 199
Period maximum 21%1980
Period minimum 12.6%2024

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Namibia, 1980–202412.51517.52022.519801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 21%1981: 20.9%1982: 20.8%1983: 20.6%1984: 20.5%1985: 20.4%1986: 20.2%1987: 20.1%1988: 20%1989: 19.8%1990: 19.7%1991: 19.6%1992: 19.4%1993: 19.3%1994: 19.1%1995: 19%1996: 18.8%1997: 18.6%1998: 18.5%1999: 18.3%2000: 18.1%2001: 17.8%2002: 17.6%2003: 17.4%2004: 17.1%2005: 16.9%2006: 16.6%2007: 16.3%2008: 16%2009: 15.7%2010: 15.4%2011: 15.2%2012: 14.9%2013: 14.6%2014: 14.3%2015: 14.1%2016: 13.9%2017: 13.7%2018: 13.5%2019: 13.3%2020: 13.2%2021: 13%2022: 12.9%2023: 12.8%2024: 12.6%
Change over the period: −8.4 pp Annual average: -0.19 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Namibia 12.6%
World computed 7.5%
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 12.1%
Southern Africa computed 6%
Underweight in adults — Namibia, by year Namibia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 12.6 −0.1 pp
2023 12.8 −0.1 pp
2022 12.9 −0.1 pp
2021 13 −0.1 pp
2020 13.2 −0.2 pp
2019 13.3 −0.2 pp
2018 13.5 −0.2 pp
2017 13.7 −0.2 pp
2016 13.9 −0.2 pp
2015 14.1 −0.2 pp
2014 14.3 −0.3 pp
2013 14.6 −0.3 pp
2012 14.9 −0.3 pp
2011 15.2 −0.3 pp
2010 15.4 −0.3 pp
2009 15.7 −0.3 pp
2008 16 −0.3 pp
2007 16.3 −0.3 pp
2006 16.6 −0.3 pp
2005 16.9 −0.3 pp
2004 17.1 −0.2 pp
2003 17.4 −0.2 pp
2002 17.6 −0.2 pp
2001 17.8 −0.2 pp
2000 18.1 −0.2 pp
1999 18.3 −0.2 pp
1998 18.5 −0.2 pp
1997 18.6 −0.2 pp
1996 18.8 −0.2 pp
1995 19 −0.2 pp
1994 19.1 −0.1 pp
1993 19.3 −0.1 pp
1992 19.4 −0.1 pp
1991 19.6 −0.1 pp
1990 19.7 −0.1 pp
1989 19.8 −0.1 pp
1988 20 −0.1 pp
1987 20.1 −0.1 pp
1986 20.2 −0.1 pp
1985 20.4 −0.1 pp
1984 20.5 −0.1 pp
1983 20.6 −0.1 pp
1982 20.8 −0.1 pp
1981 20.9 −0.1 pp
1980 21

Southern Africa, 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.