Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — United States

Underweight in adults in the United States in 2024 — 2%. Ranked 38 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 1.5 pp.

2024 2% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank 38of 199
Period maximum 3.6%1980
Period minimum 1.8%2007

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — United States, 1980–20241.522.533.5419801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 3.6%1981: 3.4%1982: 3.3%1983: 3.1%1984: 3%1985: 2.9%1986: 2.7%1987: 2.6%1988: 2.5%1989: 2.4%1990: 2.3%1991: 2.2%1992: 2.1%1993: 2.1%1994: 2%1995: 2%1996: 1.9%1997: 1.9%1998: 1.9%1999: 1.8%2000: 1.8%2001: 1.8%2002: 1.8%2003: 1.8%2004: 1.8%2005: 1.8%2006: 1.8%2007: 1.8%2008: 1.8%2009: 1.8%2010: 1.8%2011: 1.8%2012: 1.8%2013: 1.8%2014: 1.8%2015: 1.9%2016: 1.9%2017: 1.9%2018: 1.9%2019: 1.9%2020: 1.9%2021: 2%2022: 2%2023: 2%2024: 2%
Change over the period: −1.5 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

United States 2%
World computed 7.5%
North America computed 2.1%
Northern America computed 2.1%
High-income countries computed 3.3%
Underweight in adults — United States, by year United States All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 2 +0 pp
2023 2 +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 1.9 +0 pp
2016 1.9 +0 pp
2015 1.9 +0 pp
2014 1.8 +0 pp
2013 1.8 +0 pp
2012 1.8 +0 pp
2011 1.8 +0 pp
2010 1.8 +0 pp
2009 1.8 +0 pp
2008 1.8 +0 pp
2007 1.8 −0 pp
2006 1.8 −0 pp
2005 1.8 −0 pp
2004 1.8 −0 pp
2003 1.8 −0 pp
2002 1.8 −0 pp
2001 1.8 −0 pp
2000 1.8 −0 pp
1999 1.8 −0 pp
1998 1.9 −0 pp
1997 1.9 −0 pp
1996 1.9 −0 pp
1995 2 −0.1 pp
1994 2 −0.1 pp
1993 2.1 −0.1 pp
1992 2.1 −0.1 pp
1991 2.2 −0.1 pp
1990 2.3 −0.1 pp
1989 2.4 −0.1 pp
1988 2.5 −0.1 pp
1987 2.6 −0.1 pp
1986 2.7 −0.1 pp
1985 2.9 −0.1 pp
1984 3 −0.1 pp
1983 3.1 −0.1 pp
1982 3.3 −0.1 pp
1981 3.4 −0.2 pp
1980 3.6

Northern America, 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.