Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Sri Lanka

Underweight in adults in Sri Lanka in 2024 — 11.9%. Ranked 173 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 28.6 pp.

2024 11.9% −0.4 pp vs 2023
World rank 173of 199
Period maximum 40.5%1980
Period minimum 11.9%2024

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Sri Lanka, 1980–2024020406019801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 40.5%1981: 39.9%1982: 39.2%1983: 38.6%1984: 37.9%1985: 37.3%1986: 36.6%1987: 35.9%1988: 35.3%1989: 34.6%1990: 33.9%1991: 33.2%1992: 32.5%1993: 31.8%1994: 31.1%1995: 30.4%1996: 29.8%1997: 29%1998: 28.3%1999: 27.6%2000: 26.9%2001: 26.1%2002: 25.4%2003: 24.6%2004: 23.9%2005: 23.2%2006: 22.5%2007: 21.7%2008: 21%2009: 20.3%2010: 19.6%2011: 18.9%2012: 18.2%2013: 17.6%2014: 16.9%2015: 16.3%2016: 15.8%2017: 15.2%2018: 14.7%2019: 14.2%2020: 13.7%2021: 13.2%2022: 12.7%2023: 12.3%2024: 11.9%
Change over the period: −28.6 pp Annual average: -0.65 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Sri Lanka 11.9%
World computed 7.5%
South Asia computed 11.5%
Southern Asia computed 11.1%
Underweight in adults — Sri Lanka, by year Sri Lanka All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 11.9 −0.4 pp
2023 12.3 −0.4 pp
2022 12.7 −0.5 pp
2021 13.2 −0.5 pp
2020 13.7 −0.5 pp
2019 14.2 −0.5 pp
2018 14.7 −0.5 pp
2017 15.2 −0.6 pp
2016 15.8 −0.6 pp
2015 16.3 −0.6 pp
2014 16.9 −0.6 pp
2013 17.6 −0.7 pp
2012 18.2 −0.7 pp
2011 18.9 −0.7 pp
2010 19.6 −0.7 pp
2009 20.3 −0.7 pp
2008 21 −0.7 pp
2007 21.7 −0.7 pp
2006 22.5 −0.7 pp
2005 23.2 −0.7 pp
2004 23.9 −0.7 pp
2003 24.6 −0.7 pp
2002 25.4 −0.7 pp
2001 26.1 −0.7 pp
2000 26.9 −0.7 pp
1999 27.6 −0.7 pp
1998 28.3 −0.7 pp
1997 29 −0.7 pp
1996 29.8 −0.7 pp
1995 30.4 −0.7 pp
1994 31.1 −0.7 pp
1993 31.8 −0.7 pp
1992 32.5 −0.7 pp
1991 33.2 −0.7 pp
1990 33.9 −0.7 pp
1989 34.6 −0.7 pp
1988 35.3 −0.7 pp
1987 35.9 −0.7 pp
1986 36.6 −0.7 pp
1985 37.3 −0.7 pp
1984 37.9 −0.7 pp
1983 38.6 −0.6 pp
1982 39.2 −0.6 pp
1981 39.9 −0.6 pp
1980 40.5

Southern Asia, 2024

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

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.