Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — OECD

Underweight in adults in the OECD in 2024 — 3.1%. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 1.4 pp.

2024 3.1% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 4.5%1980
Period minimum 2.9%2009

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — OECD, 1980–20242.533.544.5519801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 4.5%1981: 4.4%1982: 4.3%1983: 4.2%1984: 4.1%1985: 4%1986: 3.9%1987: 3.8%1988: 3.7%1989: 3.6%1990: 3.5%1991: 3.4%1992: 3.4%1993: 3.3%1994: 3.2%1995: 3.2%1996: 3.1%1997: 3.1%1998: 3.1%1999: 3%2000: 3%2001: 3%2002: 3%2003: 2.9%2004: 2.9%2005: 2.9%2006: 2.9%2007: 2.9%2008: 2.9%2009: 2.9%2010: 2.9%2011: 2.9%2012: 2.9%2013: 2.9%2014: 2.9%2015: 2.9%2016: 2.9%2017: 3%2018: 3%2019: 3%2020: 3%2021: 3.1%2022: 3.1%2023: 3.1%2024: 3.1%
Change over the period: −1.4 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

OECD 3.1%
World computed 7.5%
Underweight in adults — OECD, by year OECD All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 3.1 +0 pp
2023 3.1 +0 pp
2022 3.1 +0 pp
2021 3.1 +0 pp
2020 3 +0 pp
2019 3 +0 pp
2018 3 +0 pp
2017 3 +0 pp
2016 2.9 +0 pp
2015 2.9 +0 pp
2014 2.9 +0 pp
2013 2.9 +0 pp
2012 2.9 +0 pp
2011 2.9 +0 pp
2010 2.9 +0 pp
2009 2.9 −0 pp
2008 2.9 −0 pp
2007 2.9 −0 pp
2006 2.9 −0 pp
2005 2.9 −0 pp
2004 2.9 −0 pp
2003 2.9 −0 pp
2002 3 −0 pp
2001 3 −0 pp
2000 3 −0 pp
1999 3 −0 pp
1998 3.1 −0 pp
1997 3.1 −0 pp
1996 3.1 −0 pp
1995 3.2 −0.1 pp
1994 3.2 −0.1 pp
1993 3.3 −0.1 pp
1992 3.4 −0.1 pp
1991 3.4 −0.1 pp
1990 3.5 −0.1 pp
1989 3.6 −0.1 pp
1988 3.7 −0.1 pp
1987 3.8 −0.1 pp
1986 3.9 −0.1 pp
1985 4 −0.1 pp
1984 4.1 −0.1 pp
1983 4.2 −0.1 pp
1982 4.3 −0.1 pp
1981 4.4 −0.1 pp
1980 4.5

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.