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Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — North Korea

Underweight in adults in North Korea in 2024 — 9.8%. Ranked 164 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 16.5 pp.

2024 9.8% −0.2 pp vs 2023
World rank 164of 199
Period maximum 26.4%1980
Period minimum 9.8%2024

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — North Korea, 1980–20245101520253019801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 26.4%1981: 25.9%1982: 25.5%1983: 25%1984: 24.6%1985: 24.1%1986: 23.6%1987: 23.1%1988: 22.7%1989: 22.2%1990: 21.7%1991: 21.2%1992: 20.8%1993: 20.4%1994: 19.9%1995: 19.5%1996: 19.1%1997: 18.7%1998: 18.4%1999: 18%2000: 17.6%2001: 17.3%2002: 16.9%2003: 16.5%2004: 16.2%2005: 15.8%2006: 15.4%2007: 15%2008: 14.7%2009: 14.3%2010: 13.9%2011: 13.5%2012: 13.2%2013: 12.8%2014: 12.5%2015: 12.1%2016: 11.8%2017: 11.5%2018: 11.2%2019: 11%2020: 10.7%2021: 10.5%2022: 10.3%2023: 10%2024: 9.8%
Change over the period: −16.5 pp Annual average: -0.38 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

North Korea 9.8%
World computed 7.5%
East Asia & Pacific computed 6.6%
Eastern Asia computed 5.3%
Low-income countries computed 13.8%
Underweight in adults — North Korea, by year North Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 9.8 −0.2 pp
2023 10 −0.2 pp
2022 10.3 −0.2 pp
2021 10.5 −0.2 pp
2020 10.7 −0.3 pp
2019 11 −0.3 pp
2018 11.2 −0.3 pp
2017 11.5 −0.3 pp
2016 11.8 −0.3 pp
2015 12.1 −0.3 pp
2014 12.5 −0.3 pp
2013 12.8 −0.4 pp
2012 13.2 −0.4 pp
2011 13.5 −0.4 pp
2010 13.9 −0.4 pp
2009 14.3 −0.4 pp
2008 14.7 −0.4 pp
2007 15 −0.4 pp
2006 15.4 −0.4 pp
2005 15.8 −0.4 pp
2004 16.2 −0.4 pp
2003 16.5 −0.4 pp
2002 16.9 −0.4 pp
2001 17.3 −0.4 pp
2000 17.6 −0.4 pp
1999 18 −0.4 pp
1998 18.4 −0.4 pp
1997 18.7 −0.4 pp
1996 19.1 −0.4 pp
1995 19.5 −0.4 pp
1994 19.9 −0.4 pp
1993 20.4 −0.4 pp
1992 20.8 −0.5 pp
1991 21.2 −0.5 pp
1990 21.7 −0.5 pp
1989 22.2 −0.5 pp
1988 22.7 −0.5 pp
1987 23.1 −0.5 pp
1986 23.6 −0.5 pp
1985 24.1 −0.5 pp
1984 24.6 −0.5 pp
1983 25 −0.5 pp
1982 25.5 −0.4 pp
1981 25.9 −0.4 pp
1980 26.4 —

Eastern Asia, 2024

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

MN Mongolia 3.3 CN China 4.7 KR South Korea 5.5 KP North Korea 9.8 JP Japan 11.2
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 North Korea

Nutrition Obesity in adults

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

North Korea by year Nutrition Prevalence of undernourishment

The share of the population whose calorie intake is below the minimum requirement.

North Korea by year Nutrition Stunting in children

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

North Korea by year Nutrition Tobacco use prevalence

The share of adults who use tobacco in any form.

North Korea by year Nutrition Access to clean water

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

North Korea by year Nutrition Access to basic sanitation

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

North Korea by year
All indicators for North Korea