Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — South-Eastern Asia

Underweight in adults in South-Eastern Asia in 2024 — 9.8%. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 17.4 pp.

2024 9.8% −0.2 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 27.2%1980
Period minimum 9.8%2024

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — South-Eastern Asia, 1980–20245101520253019801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 27.2%1981: 26.8%1982: 26.3%1983: 25.9%1984: 25.5%1985: 25.1%1986: 24.6%1987: 24.2%1988: 23.7%1989: 23.3%1990: 22.8%1991: 22.4%1992: 21.9%1993: 21.5%1994: 21.1%1995: 20.7%1996: 20.3%1997: 19.9%1998: 19.5%1999: 19.1%2000: 18.7%2001: 18.3%2002: 18%2003: 17.6%2004: 17.1%2005: 16.7%2006: 16.3%2007: 15.9%2008: 15.4%2009: 15%2010: 14.6%2011: 14.1%2012: 13.7%2013: 13.3%2014: 12.9%2015: 12.5%2016: 12.1%2017: 11.8%2018: 11.4%2019: 11.1%2020: 10.8%2021: 10.6%2022: 10.3%2023: 10%2024: 9.8%
Change over the period: −17.4 pp Annual average: -0.39 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South-Eastern Asia

South-Eastern Asia 9.8%
World computed 7.5%
Underweight in adults — South-Eastern Asia, by year South-Eastern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 9.8 −0.2 pp
2023 10 −0.3 pp
2022 10.3 −0.3 pp
2021 10.6 −0.3 pp
2020 10.8 −0.3 pp
2019 11.1 −0.3 pp
2018 11.4 −0.3 pp
2017 11.8 −0.4 pp
2016 12.1 −0.4 pp
2015 12.5 −0.4 pp
2014 12.9 −0.4 pp
2013 13.3 −0.4 pp
2012 13.7 −0.4 pp
2011 14.1 −0.4 pp
2010 14.6 −0.4 pp
2009 15 −0.4 pp
2008 15.4 −0.4 pp
2007 15.9 −0.4 pp
2006 16.3 −0.4 pp
2005 16.7 −0.4 pp
2004 17.1 −0.4 pp
2003 17.6 −0.4 pp
2002 18 −0.4 pp
2001 18.3 −0.4 pp
2000 18.7 −0.4 pp
1999 19.1 −0.4 pp
1998 19.5 −0.4 pp
1997 19.9 −0.4 pp
1996 20.3 −0.4 pp
1995 20.7 −0.4 pp
1994 21.1 −0.4 pp
1993 21.5 −0.4 pp
1992 21.9 −0.4 pp
1991 22.4 −0.4 pp
1990 22.8 −0.5 pp
1989 23.3 −0.5 pp
1988 23.7 −0.5 pp
1987 24.2 −0.5 pp
1986 24.6 −0.4 pp
1985 25.1 −0.4 pp
1984 25.5 −0.4 pp
1983 25.9 −0.4 pp
1982 26.3 −0.4 pp
1981 26.8 −0.4 pp
1980 27.2

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.