Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Northern Africa

Underweight in adults in Northern Africa in 2024 — 5.4%. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 3.4 pp.

2024 5.4% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 8.9%1980
Period minimum 5.2%2015

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Northern Africa, 1980–20245678919801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 8.9%1981: 8.7%1982: 8.6%1983: 8.4%1984: 8.2%1985: 8.1%1986: 7.9%1987: 7.7%1988: 7.6%1989: 7.4%1990: 7.2%1991: 7.1%1992: 7%1993: 6.8%1994: 6.7%1995: 6.6%1996: 6.5%1997: 6.4%1998: 6.3%1999: 6.2%2000: 6.1%2001: 6%2002: 5.9%2003: 5.8%2004: 5.7%2005: 5.6%2006: 5.5%2007: 5.5%2008: 5.4%2009: 5.4%2010: 5.3%2011: 5.3%2012: 5.3%2013: 5.2%2014: 5.2%2015: 5.2%2016: 5.2%2017: 5.2%2018: 5.2%2019: 5.3%2020: 5.3%2021: 5.4%2022: 5.4%2023: 5.4%2024: 5.4%
Change over the period: −3.4 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Northern Africa 5.4%
World computed 7.5%
Underweight in adults — Northern Africa, by year Northern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 5.4 +0 pp
2023 5.4 +0 pp
2022 5.4 +0 pp
2021 5.4 +0 pp
2020 5.3 +0 pp
2019 5.3 +0 pp
2018 5.2 +0 pp
2017 5.2 +0 pp
2016 5.2 +0 pp
2015 5.2 −0 pp
2014 5.2 −0 pp
2013 5.2 −0 pp
2012 5.3 −0 pp
2011 5.3 −0 pp
2010 5.3 −0 pp
2009 5.4 −0 pp
2008 5.4 −0 pp
2007 5.5 −0.1 pp
2006 5.5 −0.1 pp
2005 5.6 −0.1 pp
2004 5.7 −0.1 pp
2003 5.8 −0.1 pp
2002 5.9 −0.1 pp
2001 6 −0.1 pp
2000 6.1 −0.1 pp
1999 6.2 −0.1 pp
1998 6.3 −0.1 pp
1997 6.4 −0.1 pp
1996 6.5 −0.1 pp
1995 6.6 −0.1 pp
1994 6.7 −0.1 pp
1993 6.8 −0.1 pp
1992 7 −0.1 pp
1991 7.1 −0.1 pp
1990 7.2 −0.2 pp
1989 7.4 −0.2 pp
1988 7.6 −0.2 pp
1987 7.7 −0.2 pp
1986 7.9 −0.2 pp
1985 8.1 −0.2 pp
1984 8.2 −0.2 pp
1983 8.4 −0.2 pp
1982 8.6 −0.2 pp
1981 8.7 −0.2 pp
1980 8.9

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.