Underweight in adults — all countries

Underweight in adults — Zambia

Underweight in adults in Zambia in 2024 — 8.2%. Ranked 153 in the world out of 199. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 8.4 pp.

2024 8.2% −0.1 pp vs 2023
World rank 153of 199
Period maximum 16.6%1980
Period minimum 8.2%2024

Trend over time

1980–2024 · % of adults

Underweight in adults — Zambia, 1980–20247.51012.51517.519801985199019952000200520102015202020241980: 16.6%1981: 16.4%1982: 16.3%1983: 16.1%1984: 15.9%1985: 15.8%1986: 15.6%1987: 15.4%1988: 15.3%1989: 15.1%1990: 14.9%1991: 14.8%1992: 14.6%1993: 14.5%1994: 14.3%1995: 14.2%1996: 14%1997: 13.8%1998: 13.7%1999: 13.5%2000: 13.3%2001: 13.1%2002: 12.9%2003: 12.7%2004: 12.5%2005: 12.2%2006: 12%2007: 11.7%2008: 11.5%2009: 11.2%2010: 10.9%2011: 10.6%2012: 10.4%2013: 10.1%2014: 9.8%2015: 9.6%2016: 9.4%2017: 9.2%2018: 9%2019: 8.8%2020: 8.7%2021: 8.6%2022: 8.5%2023: 8.4%2024: 8.2%
Change over the period: −8.4 pp Annual average: -0.19 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Zambia 8.2%
World computed 7.5%
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 12.1%
Eastern Africa computed 15.1%
Underweight in adults — Zambia, by year Zambia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 8.2 −0.1 pp
2023 8.4 −0.1 pp
2022 8.5 −0.1 pp
2021 8.6 −0.1 pp
2020 8.7 −0.1 pp
2019 8.8 −0.2 pp
2018 9 −0.2 pp
2017 9.2 −0.2 pp
2016 9.4 −0.2 pp
2015 9.6 −0.2 pp
2014 9.8 −0.3 pp
2013 10.1 −0.3 pp
2012 10.4 −0.3 pp
2011 10.6 −0.3 pp
2010 10.9 −0.3 pp
2009 11.2 −0.3 pp
2008 11.5 −0.3 pp
2007 11.7 −0.3 pp
2006 12 −0.2 pp
2005 12.2 −0.2 pp
2004 12.5 −0.2 pp
2003 12.7 −0.2 pp
2002 12.9 −0.2 pp
2001 13.1 −0.2 pp
2000 13.3 −0.2 pp
1999 13.5 −0.2 pp
1998 13.7 −0.2 pp
1997 13.8 −0.2 pp
1996 14 −0.2 pp
1995 14.2 −0.2 pp
1994 14.3 −0.2 pp
1993 14.5 −0.2 pp
1992 14.6 −0.2 pp
1991 14.8 −0.2 pp
1990 14.9 −0.2 pp
1989 15.1 −0.2 pp
1988 15.3 −0.2 pp
1987 15.4 −0.2 pp
1986 15.6 −0.2 pp
1985 15.8 −0.2 pp
1984 15.9 −0.2 pp
1983 16.1 −0.2 pp
1982 16.3 −0.2 pp
1981 16.4 −0.2 pp
1980 16.6

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.