Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Middle Africa

Underweight in adults in Middle Africa in 2024 — 11%. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 10.8 pp.

2024 11% −0.2 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 21.8%1980
Period minimum 11%2024

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Middle Africa, 1980–20241015202519801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 21.8%1981: 21.6%1982: 21.5%1983: 21.3%1984: 21.2%1985: 21%1986: 20.8%1987: 20.7%1988: 20.5%1989: 20.3%1990: 20.2%1991: 20%1992: 19.9%1993: 19.7%1994: 19.6%1995: 19.4%1996: 19.2%1997: 19%1998: 18.8%1999: 18.5%2000: 18.3%2001: 18.1%2002: 17.8%2003: 17.5%2004: 17.2%2005: 16.9%2006: 16.5%2007: 16.2%2008: 15.8%2009: 15.4%2010: 15%2011: 14.6%2012: 14.3%2013: 13.9%2014: 13.5%2015: 13.2%2016: 12.9%2017: 12.6%2018: 12.3%2019: 12%2020: 11.8%2021: 11.6%2022: 11.4%2023: 11.1%2024: 11%
Change over the period: −10.8 pp Annual average: -0.25 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Middle Africa 11%
World computed 7.5%
Underweight in adults — Middle Africa, by year Middle Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 11 −0.2 pp
2023 11.1 −0.2 pp
2022 11.4 −0.2 pp
2021 11.6 −0.2 pp
2020 11.8 −0.2 pp
2019 12 −0.3 pp
2018 12.3 −0.3 pp
2017 12.6 −0.3 pp
2016 12.9 −0.3 pp
2015 13.2 −0.3 pp
2014 13.5 −0.4 pp
2013 13.9 −0.4 pp
2012 14.3 −0.4 pp
2011 14.6 −0.4 pp
2010 15 −0.4 pp
2009 15.4 −0.4 pp
2008 15.8 −0.4 pp
2007 16.2 −0.4 pp
2006 16.5 −0.3 pp
2005 16.9 −0.3 pp
2004 17.2 −0.3 pp
2003 17.5 −0.3 pp
2002 17.8 −0.3 pp
2001 18.1 −0.2 pp
2000 18.3 −0.2 pp
1999 18.5 −0.2 pp
1998 18.8 −0.2 pp
1997 19 −0.2 pp
1996 19.2 −0.2 pp
1995 19.4 −0.2 pp
1994 19.6 −0.1 pp
1993 19.7 −0.2 pp
1992 19.9 −0.2 pp
1991 20 −0.2 pp
1990 20.2 −0.2 pp
1989 20.3 −0.2 pp
1988 20.5 −0.2 pp
1987 20.7 −0.2 pp
1986 20.8 −0.2 pp
1985 21 −0.2 pp
1984 21.2 −0.2 pp
1983 21.3 −0.1 pp
1982 21.5 −0.1 pp
1981 21.6 −0.2 pp
1980 21.8

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.