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Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — South Sudan

Underweight in adults in South Sudan in 2024 — 17.4%. Ranked 191 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 4.5 pp.

2024 17.4% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank 191of 199
Period maximum 21.9%1980
Period minimum 17.3%2020

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — South Sudan, 1980–20241618202219801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 21.9%1981: 21.8%1982: 21.7%1983: 21.6%1984: 21.4%1985: 21.3%1986: 21.2%1987: 21.1%1988: 21%1989: 20.9%1990: 20.7%1991: 20.6%1992: 20.5%1993: 20.4%1994: 20.3%1995: 20.2%1996: 20.1%1997: 20%1998: 19.9%1999: 19.8%2000: 19.7%2001: 19.5%2002: 19.4%2003: 19.3%2004: 19.1%2005: 19%2006: 18.8%2007: 18.6%2008: 18.5%2009: 18.3%2010: 18.1%2011: 18%2012: 17.8%2013: 17.7%2014: 17.5%2015: 17.5%2016: 17.4%2017: 17.4%2018: 17.3%2019: 17.3%2020: 17.3%2021: 17.3%2022: 17.3%2023: 17.4%2024: 17.4%
Change over the period: −4.5 pp Annual average: -0.1 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

South Sudan 17.4%
World computed 7.5%
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 12.1%
Eastern Africa computed 15.1%
Low-income countries computed 13.8%
Underweight in adults — South Sudan, by year South Sudan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 17.4 +0 pp
2023 17.4 +0 pp
2022 17.3 +0 pp
2021 17.3 +0 pp
2020 17.3 −0 pp
2019 17.3 −0 pp
2018 17.3 −0 pp
2017 17.4 −0 pp
2016 17.4 −0.1 pp
2015 17.5 −0.1 pp
2014 17.5 −0.1 pp
2013 17.7 −0.1 pp
2012 17.8 −0.2 pp
2011 18 −0.2 pp
2010 18.1 −0.2 pp
2009 18.3 −0.2 pp
2008 18.5 −0.2 pp
2007 18.6 −0.2 pp
2006 18.8 −0.2 pp
2005 19 −0.2 pp
2004 19.1 −0.1 pp
2003 19.3 −0.1 pp
2002 19.4 −0.1 pp
2001 19.5 −0.1 pp
2000 19.7 −0.1 pp
1999 19.8 −0.1 pp
1998 19.9 −0.1 pp
1997 20 −0.1 pp
1996 20.1 −0.1 pp
1995 20.2 −0.1 pp
1994 20.3 −0.1 pp
1993 20.4 −0.1 pp
1992 20.5 −0.1 pp
1991 20.6 −0.1 pp
1990 20.7 −0.1 pp
1989 20.9 −0.1 pp
1988 21 −0.1 pp
1987 21.1 −0.1 pp
1986 21.2 −0.1 pp
1985 21.3 −0.1 pp
1984 21.4 −0.1 pp
1983 21.6 −0.1 pp
1982 21.7 −0.1 pp
1981 21.8 −0.1 pp
1980 21.9 —

Eastern Africa, 2024

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

SC Seychelles 4.5 KM Comoros 6.6 ZW Zimbabwe 6.9 MU Mauritius 7.2 MW Malawi 8 ZM Zambia 8.2 RW Rwanda 10.2 MZ Mozambique 10.5 TZ Tanzania 11.8 UG Uganda 12.6 KE Kenya 12.8 DJ Djibouti 13.1 SS South Sudan 17.4 SO Somalia 17.5 BI Burundi 17.9 MG Madagascar 18.4 ET Ethiopia 21.8 ER Eritrea 37.1
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 South Sudan

Nutrition Obesity in adults

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

South Sudan by year Nutrition Prevalence of undernourishment

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

South Sudan by year Nutrition Stunting in children

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

South Sudan by year Nutrition Access to clean water

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

South Sudan by year Nutrition Access to basic sanitation

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

South Sudan by year
All indicators for South Sudan