Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Uganda

Underweight in adults in Uganda in 2024 — 12.6%. Ranked 183 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 4.7 pp.

2024 12.6% +0.1 pp vs 2023
World rank 183of 199
Period maximum 17.3%1980
Period minimum 12.2%2018

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Uganda, 1980–20241214161819801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 17.3%1981: 17.1%1982: 17%1983: 16.8%1984: 16.6%1985: 16.5%1986: 16.3%1987: 16.2%1988: 16%1989: 15.9%1990: 15.7%1991: 15.6%1992: 15.5%1993: 15.3%1994: 15.2%1995: 15.1%1996: 15%1997: 14.8%1998: 14.7%1999: 14.6%2000: 14.5%2001: 14.3%2002: 14.2%2003: 14.1%2004: 13.9%2005: 13.8%2006: 13.6%2007: 13.5%2008: 13.3%2009: 13.1%2010: 13%2011: 12.8%2012: 12.7%2013: 12.5%2014: 12.4%2015: 12.3%2016: 12.3%2017: 12.2%2018: 12.2%2019: 12.2%2020: 12.3%2021: 12.4%2022: 12.5%2023: 12.5%2024: 12.6%
Change over the period: −4.7 pp Annual average: -0.11 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Uganda 12.6%
World computed 7.5%
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 12.1%
Eastern Africa computed 15.1%
Low-income countries computed 13.8%
Underweight in adults — Uganda, by year Uganda All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 12.6 +0.1 pp
2023 12.5 +0.1 pp
2022 12.5 +0.1 pp
2021 12.4 +0.1 pp
2020 12.3 +0.1 pp
2019 12.2 +0 pp
2018 12.2 −0 pp
2017 12.2 −0 pp
2016 12.3 −0.1 pp
2015 12.3 −0.1 pp
2014 12.4 −0.1 pp
2013 12.5 −0.1 pp
2012 12.7 −0.2 pp
2011 12.8 −0.2 pp
2010 13 −0.2 pp
2009 13.1 −0.2 pp
2008 13.3 −0.2 pp
2007 13.5 −0.2 pp
2006 13.6 −0.2 pp
2005 13.8 −0.1 pp
2004 13.9 −0.1 pp
2003 14.1 −0.1 pp
2002 14.2 −0.1 pp
2001 14.3 −0.1 pp
2000 14.5 −0.1 pp
1999 14.6 −0.1 pp
1998 14.7 −0.1 pp
1997 14.8 −0.1 pp
1996 15 −0.1 pp
1995 15.1 −0.1 pp
1994 15.2 −0.1 pp
1993 15.3 −0.1 pp
1992 15.5 −0.1 pp
1991 15.6 −0.1 pp
1990 15.7 −0.1 pp
1989 15.9 −0.1 pp
1988 16 −0.1 pp
1987 16.2 −0.2 pp
1986 16.3 −0.2 pp
1985 16.5 −0.2 pp
1984 16.6 −0.2 pp
1983 16.8 −0.2 pp
1982 17 −0.2 pp
1981 17.1 −0.2 pp
1980 17.3

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.