Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Western Africa

Underweight in adults in Western Africa in 2024 — 10%. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 9.1 pp.

2024 10% −0 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 19%1980
Period minimum 10%2024

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Western Africa, 1980–20247.51012.51517.52019801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 19%1981: 18.8%1982: 18.5%1983: 18.2%1984: 17.9%1985: 17.7%1986: 17.4%1987: 17.1%1988: 16.8%1989: 16.6%1990: 16.3%1991: 16%1992: 15.8%1993: 15.5%1994: 15.2%1995: 15%1996: 14.7%1997: 14.4%1998: 14.1%1999: 13.9%2000: 13.6%2001: 13.3%2002: 13%2003: 12.7%2004: 12.5%2005: 12.2%2006: 11.9%2007: 11.7%2008: 11.4%2009: 11.2%2010: 11%2011: 10.8%2012: 10.6%2013: 10.5%2014: 10.4%2015: 10.3%2016: 10.2%2017: 10.1%2018: 10.1%2019: 10.1%2020: 10%2021: 10%2022: 10%2023: 10%2024: 10%
Change over the period: −9.1 pp Annual average: -0.21 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Western Africa 10%
World computed 7.5%
Underweight in adults — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 10 −0 pp
2023 10 −0 pp
2022 10 −0 pp
2021 10 −0 pp
2020 10 −0 pp
2019 10.1 −0 pp
2018 10.1 −0.1 pp
2017 10.1 −0.1 pp
2016 10.2 −0.1 pp
2015 10.3 −0.1 pp
2014 10.4 −0.1 pp
2013 10.5 −0.1 pp
2012 10.6 −0.2 pp
2011 10.8 −0.2 pp
2010 11 −0.2 pp
2009 11.2 −0.2 pp
2008 11.4 −0.2 pp
2007 11.7 −0.3 pp
2006 11.9 −0.3 pp
2005 12.2 −0.3 pp
2004 12.5 −0.3 pp
2003 12.7 −0.3 pp
2002 13 −0.3 pp
2001 13.3 −0.3 pp
2000 13.6 −0.3 pp
1999 13.9 −0.3 pp
1998 14.1 −0.3 pp
1997 14.4 −0.3 pp
1996 14.7 −0.3 pp
1995 15 −0.3 pp
1994 15.2 −0.3 pp
1993 15.5 −0.3 pp
1992 15.8 −0.3 pp
1991 16 −0.3 pp
1990 16.3 −0.3 pp
1989 16.6 −0.3 pp
1988 16.8 −0.3 pp
1987 17.1 −0.3 pp
1986 17.4 −0.3 pp
1985 17.7 −0.3 pp
1984 17.9 −0.3 pp
1983 18.2 −0.3 pp
1982 18.5 −0.3 pp
1981 18.8 −0.3 pp
1980 19

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.