Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Nigeria

Underweight in adults in Nigeria in 2024 — 9.3%. Ranked 158 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 9.4 pp.

2024 9.3% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank 158of 199
Period maximum 18.7%1980
Period minimum 9.3%2021

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Nigeria, 1980–20247.51012.51517.52019801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 18.7%1981: 18.4%1982: 18.1%1983: 17.8%1984: 17.5%1985: 17.3%1986: 17%1987: 16.7%1988: 16.4%1989: 16.1%1990: 15.9%1991: 15.6%1992: 15.3%1993: 15%1994: 14.7%1995: 14.4%1996: 14.1%1997: 13.8%1998: 13.5%1999: 13.2%2000: 12.9%2001: 12.6%2002: 12.3%2003: 12%2004: 11.7%2005: 11.4%2006: 11.1%2007: 10.9%2008: 10.6%2009: 10.4%2010: 10.1%2011: 10%2012: 9.8%2013: 9.7%2014: 9.6%2015: 9.5%2016: 9.4%2017: 9.4%2018: 9.3%2019: 9.3%2020: 9.3%2021: 9.3%2022: 9.3%2023: 9.3%2024: 9.3%
Change over the period: −9.4 pp Annual average: -0.21 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Nigeria 9.3%
World computed 7.5%
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 12.1%
Western Africa computed 10%
Underweight in adults — Nigeria, by year Nigeria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 9.3 +0 pp
2023 9.3 +0 pp
2022 9.3 +0 pp
2021 9.3 −0 pp
2020 9.3 −0 pp
2019 9.3 −0 pp
2018 9.3 −0 pp
2017 9.4 −0 pp
2016 9.4 −0.1 pp
2015 9.5 −0.1 pp
2014 9.6 −0.1 pp
2013 9.7 −0.1 pp
2012 9.8 −0.2 pp
2011 10 −0.2 pp
2010 10.1 −0.2 pp
2009 10.4 −0.2 pp
2008 10.6 −0.3 pp
2007 10.9 −0.3 pp
2006 11.1 −0.3 pp
2005 11.4 −0.3 pp
2004 11.7 −0.3 pp
2003 12 −0.3 pp
2002 12.3 −0.3 pp
2001 12.6 −0.3 pp
2000 12.9 −0.3 pp
1999 13.2 −0.3 pp
1998 13.5 −0.3 pp
1997 13.8 −0.3 pp
1996 14.1 −0.3 pp
1995 14.4 −0.3 pp
1994 14.7 −0.3 pp
1993 15 −0.3 pp
1992 15.3 −0.3 pp
1991 15.6 −0.3 pp
1990 15.9 −0.3 pp
1989 16.1 −0.3 pp
1988 16.4 −0.3 pp
1987 16.7 −0.3 pp
1986 17 −0.3 pp
1985 17.3 −0.3 pp
1984 17.5 −0.3 pp
1983 17.8 −0.3 pp
1982 18.1 −0.3 pp
1981 18.4 −0.3 pp
1980 18.7

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.