Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — United Kingdom

Underweight in adults in the United Kingdom in 2024 — 2.1%. Ranked 43 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 1.2 pp.

2024 2.1% +0.1 pp vs 2023
World rank 43of 199
Period maximum 3.4%1980
Period minimum 1.6%2005

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — United Kingdom, 1980–20241.522.533.519801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 3.4%1981: 3.2%1982: 3.1%1983: 2.9%1984: 2.8%1985: 2.7%1986: 2.6%1987: 2.4%1988: 2.4%1989: 2.3%1990: 2.2%1991: 2.1%1992: 2%1993: 1.9%1994: 1.9%1995: 1.8%1996: 1.8%1997: 1.7%1998: 1.7%1999: 1.6%2000: 1.6%2001: 1.6%2002: 1.6%2003: 1.6%2004: 1.6%2005: 1.6%2006: 1.6%2007: 1.6%2008: 1.6%2009: 1.6%2010: 1.6%2011: 1.6%2012: 1.7%2013: 1.7%2014: 1.7%2015: 1.8%2016: 1.8%2017: 1.8%2018: 1.9%2019: 1.9%2020: 1.9%2021: 2%2022: 2%2023: 2.1%2024: 2.1%
Change over the period: −1.2 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

United Kingdom 2.1%
World computed 7.5%
Europe & Central Asia computed 2.5%
Northern Europe computed 2%
High-income countries computed 3.3%
Underweight in adults — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 2.1 +0.1 pp
2023 2.1 +0 pp
2022 2 +0 pp
2021 2 +0 pp
2020 1.9 +0 pp
2019 1.9 +0 pp
2018 1.9 +0 pp
2017 1.8 +0 pp
2016 1.8 +0 pp
2015 1.8 +0 pp
2014 1.7 +0 pp
2013 1.7 +0 pp
2012 1.7 +0 pp
2011 1.6 +0 pp
2010 1.6 +0 pp
2009 1.6 +0 pp
2008 1.6 +0 pp
2007 1.6 +0 pp
2006 1.6 +0 pp
2005 1.6 −0 pp
2004 1.6 −0 pp
2003 1.6 −0 pp
2002 1.6 −0 pp
2001 1.6 −0 pp
2000 1.6 −0 pp
1999 1.6 −0 pp
1998 1.7 −0 pp
1997 1.7 −0 pp
1996 1.8 −0.1 pp
1995 1.8 −0.1 pp
1994 1.9 −0.1 pp
1993 1.9 −0.1 pp
1992 2 −0.1 pp
1991 2.1 −0.1 pp
1990 2.2 −0.1 pp
1989 2.3 −0.1 pp
1988 2.4 −0.1 pp
1987 2.4 −0.1 pp
1986 2.6 −0.1 pp
1985 2.7 −0.1 pp
1984 2.8 −0.1 pp
1983 2.9 −0.1 pp
1982 3.1 −0.1 pp
1981 3.2 −0.1 pp
1980 3.4

Northern Europe, 2024

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.