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Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Southern Europe

Underweight in adults in Southern Europe in 2024 — 2.4%. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 0.3 pp.

2024 2.4% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank —
Period maximum 2.7%1980
Period minimum 2.1%2009

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Southern Europe, 1980–202422.22.42.62.819801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 2.7%1981: 2.6%1982: 2.6%1983: 2.6%1984: 2.6%1985: 2.5%1986: 2.5%1987: 2.5%1988: 2.5%1989: 2.4%1990: 2.4%1991: 2.4%1992: 2.4%1993: 2.4%1994: 2.4%1995: 2.3%1996: 2.3%1997: 2.3%1998: 2.3%1999: 2.3%2000: 2.2%2001: 2.2%2002: 2.2%2003: 2.2%2004: 2.1%2005: 2.1%2006: 2.1%2007: 2.1%2008: 2.1%2009: 2.1%2010: 2.1%2011: 2.1%2012: 2.1%2013: 2.1%2014: 2.1%2015: 2.1%2016: 2.2%2017: 2.2%2018: 2.2%2019: 2.2%2020: 2.3%2021: 2.3%2022: 2.3%2023: 2.4%2024: 2.4%
Change over the period: −0.3 pp Annual average: -0.01 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Southern Europe 2.4%
World computed 7.5%
Underweight in adults — Southern Europe, by year Southern Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 2.4 +0 pp
2023 2.4 +0 pp
2022 2.3 +0 pp
2021 2.3 +0 pp
2020 2.3 +0 pp
2019 2.2 +0 pp
2018 2.2 +0 pp
2017 2.2 +0 pp
2016 2.2 +0 pp
2015 2.1 +0 pp
2014 2.1 +0 pp
2013 2.1 +0 pp
2012 2.1 +0 pp
2011 2.1 +0 pp
2010 2.1 +0 pp
2009 2.1 −0 pp
2008 2.1 −0 pp
2007 2.1 −0 pp
2006 2.1 −0 pp
2005 2.1 −0 pp
2004 2.1 −0 pp
2003 2.2 −0 pp
2002 2.2 −0 pp
2001 2.2 −0 pp
2000 2.2 −0 pp
1999 2.3 −0 pp
1998 2.3 −0 pp
1997 2.3 −0 pp
1996 2.3 −0 pp
1995 2.3 −0 pp
1994 2.4 −0 pp
1993 2.4 −0 pp
1992 2.4 −0 pp
1991 2.4 −0 pp
1990 2.4 −0 pp
1989 2.4 −0 pp
1988 2.5 −0 pp
1987 2.5 −0 pp
1986 2.5 −0 pp
1985 2.5 −0 pp
1984 2.6 −0 pp
1983 2.6 −0 pp
1982 2.6 −0 pp
1981 2.6 −0 pp
1980 2.7 —

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.

Other indicators for Southern Europe

Nutrition Obesity in adults

The share of adults with a body mass index of 30 and above. The WHO series runs from 1980.

Southern Europe by year Nutrition Prevalence of undernourishment

The share of the population whose calorie intake is below the minimum requirement.

Southern Europe by year Nutrition Tobacco use prevalence

The share of adults who use tobacco in any form.

Southern Europe by year Nutrition Access to clean water

The share of the population with access to basic sources of drinking water.

Southern Europe by year Nutrition Access to basic sanitation

The share of the population with access to improved sanitation and hygiene conditions.

Southern Europe by year
All indicators for Southern Europe