Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — United Arab Emirates

Underweight in adults in the United Arab Emirates in 2024 — 2.9%. Ranked 87 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 3.5 pp.

2024 2.9% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank 87of 199
Period maximum 6.4%1980
Period minimum 2.7%2016

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — United Arab Emirates, 1980–202423456719801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 6.4%1981: 6.2%1982: 6%1983: 5.8%1984: 5.6%1985: 5.4%1986: 5.2%1987: 5%1988: 4.9%1989: 4.7%1990: 4.6%1991: 4.4%1992: 4.3%1993: 4.2%1994: 4%1995: 3.9%1996: 3.8%1997: 3.7%1998: 3.6%1999: 3.5%2000: 3.4%2001: 3.3%2002: 3.2%2003: 3.1%2004: 3%2005: 3%2006: 2.9%2007: 2.9%2008: 2.8%2009: 2.8%2010: 2.8%2011: 2.8%2012: 2.7%2013: 2.7%2014: 2.7%2015: 2.7%2016: 2.7%2017: 2.7%2018: 2.8%2019: 2.8%2020: 2.8%2021: 2.8%2022: 2.9%2023: 2.9%2024: 2.9%
Change over the period: −3.5 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates 2.9%
World computed 7.5%
Western Asia computed 4.2%
High-income countries computed 3.3%
Underweight in adults — United Arab Emirates, by year United Arab Emirates All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 2.9 +0 pp
2023 2.9 +0 pp
2022 2.9 +0 pp
2021 2.8 +0 pp
2020 2.8 +0 pp
2019 2.8 +0 pp
2018 2.8 +0 pp
2017 2.7 +0 pp
2016 2.7 −0 pp
2015 2.7 −0 pp
2014 2.7 −0 pp
2013 2.7 −0 pp
2012 2.7 −0 pp
2011 2.8 −0 pp
2010 2.8 −0 pp
2009 2.8 −0 pp
2008 2.8 −0 pp
2007 2.9 −0 pp
2006 2.9 −0.1 pp
2005 3 −0.1 pp
2004 3 −0.1 pp
2003 3.1 −0.1 pp
2002 3.2 −0.1 pp
2001 3.3 −0.1 pp
2000 3.4 −0.1 pp
1999 3.5 −0.1 pp
1998 3.6 −0.1 pp
1997 3.7 −0.1 pp
1996 3.8 −0.1 pp
1995 3.9 −0.1 pp
1994 4 −0.1 pp
1993 4.2 −0.1 pp
1992 4.3 −0.1 pp
1991 4.4 −0.1 pp
1990 4.6 −0.1 pp
1989 4.7 −0.2 pp
1988 4.9 −0.2 pp
1987 5 −0.2 pp
1986 5.2 −0.2 pp
1985 5.4 −0.2 pp
1984 5.6 −0.2 pp
1983 5.8 −0.2 pp
1982 6 −0.2 pp
1981 6.2 −0.2 pp
1980 6.4

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.