Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Saudi Arabia

Underweight in adults in Saudi Arabia in 2024 — 4.7%. Ranked 123 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has risen by 0.5 pp.

2024 4.7% +0.1 pp vs 2023
World rank 123of 199
Period maximum 4.7%2024
Period minimum 3.5%1999

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Saudi Arabia, 1980–202433.544.5519801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 4.2%1981: 4.1%1982: 4.1%1983: 4%1984: 3.9%1985: 3.9%1986: 3.8%1987: 3.8%1988: 3.7%1989: 3.7%1990: 3.6%1991: 3.6%1992: 3.6%1993: 3.6%1994: 3.5%1995: 3.5%1996: 3.5%1997: 3.5%1998: 3.5%1999: 3.5%2000: 3.5%2001: 3.5%2002: 3.5%2003: 3.5%2004: 3.5%2005: 3.5%2006: 3.6%2007: 3.6%2008: 3.6%2009: 3.7%2010: 3.7%2011: 3.7%2012: 3.8%2013: 3.8%2014: 3.9%2015: 3.9%2016: 4%2017: 4.1%2018: 4.2%2019: 4.2%2020: 4.3%2021: 4.4%2022: 4.5%2023: 4.6%2024: 4.7%
Change over the period: +0.5 pp Annual average: 0.01 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Saudi Arabia 4.7%
World computed 7.5%
Western Asia computed 4.2%
High-income countries computed 3.3%
Underweight in adults — Saudi Arabia, by year Saudi Arabia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 4.7 +0.1 pp
2023 4.6 +0.1 pp
2022 4.5 +0.1 pp
2021 4.4 +0.1 pp
2020 4.3 +0.1 pp
2019 4.2 +0.1 pp
2018 4.2 +0.1 pp
2017 4.1 +0.1 pp
2016 4 +0.1 pp
2015 3.9 +0.1 pp
2014 3.9 +0.1 pp
2013 3.8 +0 pp
2012 3.8 +0 pp
2011 3.7 +0 pp
2010 3.7 +0 pp
2009 3.7 +0 pp
2008 3.6 +0 pp
2007 3.6 +0 pp
2006 3.6 +0 pp
2005 3.5 +0 pp
2004 3.5 +0 pp
2003 3.5 +0 pp
2002 3.5 +0 pp
2001 3.5 +0 pp
2000 3.5 +0 pp
1999 3.5 −0 pp
1998 3.5 −0 pp
1997 3.5 −0 pp
1996 3.5 −0 pp
1995 3.5 −0 pp
1994 3.5 −0 pp
1993 3.6 −0 pp
1992 3.6 −0 pp
1991 3.6 −0 pp
1990 3.6 −0 pp
1989 3.7 −0 pp
1988 3.7 −0 pp
1987 3.8 −0 pp
1986 3.8 −0.1 pp
1985 3.9 −0.1 pp
1984 3.9 −0.1 pp
1983 4 −0.1 pp
1982 4.1 −0.1 pp
1981 4.1 −0.1 pp
1980 4.2

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.