Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — OPEC

Underweight in adults in OPEC in 2024 — 6.4%. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 6.5 pp.

2024 6.4% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 12.9%1980
Period minimum 6.4%2020

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — OPEC, 1980–20246810121419801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 12.9%1981: 12.6%1982: 12.4%1983: 12.1%1984: 11.8%1985: 11.6%1986: 11.4%1987: 11.1%1988: 10.9%1989: 10.7%1990: 10.5%1991: 10.3%1992: 10.1%1993: 9.9%1994: 9.7%1995: 9.5%1996: 9.3%1997: 9.1%1998: 8.9%1999: 8.7%2000: 8.5%2001: 8.3%2002: 8.1%2003: 8%2004: 7.8%2005: 7.6%2006: 7.4%2007: 7.3%2008: 7.1%2009: 7%2010: 6.9%2011: 6.8%2012: 6.7%2013: 6.6%2014: 6.5%2015: 6.5%2016: 6.4%2017: 6.4%2018: 6.4%2019: 6.4%2020: 6.4%2021: 6.4%2022: 6.4%2023: 6.4%2024: 6.4%
Change over the period: −6.5 pp Annual average: -0.15 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

OPEC 6.4%
World computed 7.5%
Underweight in adults — OPEC, by year OPEC All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 6.4 +0 pp
2023 6.4 +0 pp
2022 6.4 −0 pp
2021 6.4 +0 pp
2020 6.4 −0 pp
2019 6.4 −0 pp
2018 6.4 −0 pp
2017 6.4 −0 pp
2016 6.4 −0 pp
2015 6.5 −0.1 pp
2014 6.5 −0.1 pp
2013 6.6 −0.1 pp
2012 6.7 −0.1 pp
2011 6.8 −0.1 pp
2010 6.9 −0.1 pp
2009 7 −0.1 pp
2008 7.1 −0.1 pp
2007 7.3 −0.1 pp
2006 7.4 −0.2 pp
2005 7.6 −0.2 pp
2004 7.8 −0.2 pp
2003 8 −0.2 pp
2002 8.1 −0.2 pp
2001 8.3 −0.2 pp
2000 8.5 −0.2 pp
1999 8.7 −0.2 pp
1998 8.9 −0.2 pp
1997 9.1 −0.2 pp
1996 9.3 −0.2 pp
1995 9.5 −0.2 pp
1994 9.7 −0.2 pp
1993 9.9 −0.2 pp
1992 10.1 −0.2 pp
1991 10.3 −0.2 pp
1990 10.5 −0.2 pp
1989 10.7 −0.2 pp
1988 10.9 −0.2 pp
1987 11.1 −0.2 pp
1986 11.4 −0.2 pp
1985 11.6 −0.2 pp
1984 11.8 −0.3 pp
1983 12.1 −0.3 pp
1982 12.4 −0.3 pp
1981 12.6 −0.3 pp
1980 12.9

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.