Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Southern Asia

Underweight in adults in Southern Asia in 2024 — 11.1%. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 36.8 pp.

2024 11.1% −0.6 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 48%1980
Period minimum 11.1%2024

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Southern Asia, 1980–2024020406019801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 48%1981: 47.1%1982: 46.1%1983: 45.2%1984: 44.3%1985: 43.4%1986: 42.5%1987: 41.6%1988: 40.8%1989: 39.9%1990: 39.1%1991: 38.3%1992: 37.6%1993: 36.8%1994: 36.1%1995: 35.4%1996: 34.7%1997: 33.9%1998: 33.2%1999: 32.3%2000: 31.5%2001: 30.7%2002: 29.8%2003: 29%2004: 28.1%2005: 27.2%2006: 26.3%2007: 25.4%2008: 24.5%2009: 23.5%2010: 22.6%2011: 21.6%2012: 20.7%2013: 19.7%2014: 18.8%2015: 17.9%2016: 17.1%2017: 16.2%2018: 15.4%2019: 14.6%2020: 13.9%2021: 13.1%2022: 12.5%2023: 11.8%2024: 11.1%
Change over the period: −36.8 pp Annual average: -0.84 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Southern Asia

Southern Asia 11.1%
World computed 7.5%
Underweight in adults — Southern Asia, by year Southern Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 11.1 −0.6 pp
2023 11.8 −0.7 pp
2022 12.5 −0.7 pp
2021 13.1 −0.7 pp
2020 13.9 −0.8 pp
2019 14.6 −0.8 pp
2018 15.4 −0.8 pp
2017 16.2 −0.8 pp
2016 17.1 −0.9 pp
2015 17.9 −0.9 pp
2014 18.8 −0.9 pp
2013 19.7 −0.9 pp
2012 20.7 −0.9 pp
2011 21.6 −0.9 pp
2010 22.6 −0.9 pp
2009 23.5 −0.9 pp
2008 24.5 −0.9 pp
2007 25.4 −0.9 pp
2006 26.3 −0.9 pp
2005 27.2 −0.9 pp
2004 28.1 −0.9 pp
2003 29 −0.9 pp
2002 29.8 −0.8 pp
2001 30.7 −0.8 pp
2000 31.5 −0.8 pp
1999 32.3 −0.8 pp
1998 33.2 −0.8 pp
1997 33.9 −0.7 pp
1996 34.7 −0.7 pp
1995 35.4 −0.7 pp
1994 36.1 −0.7 pp
1993 36.8 −0.7 pp
1992 37.6 −0.8 pp
1991 38.3 −0.8 pp
1990 39.1 −0.8 pp
1989 39.9 −0.8 pp
1988 40.8 −0.9 pp
1987 41.6 −0.9 pp
1986 42.5 −0.9 pp
1985 43.4 −0.9 pp
1984 44.3 −0.9 pp
1983 45.2 −0.9 pp
1982 46.1 −0.9 pp
1981 47.1 −0.9 pp
1980 48

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.