Which has higher mean body mass index (bmi) in women, Bangladesh or Vietnam?

Bangladesh, at 22 against 21.9 in Vietnam as of 2016.

How many years of comparable data are there for Bangladesh and Vietnam?

42 years are reported by both, from 1975 to 2016.

Where does this data come from?

World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Mean body mass index (BMI) in women. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Bangladesh vs Vietnam: Mean body mass index (BMI) in women

Bangladesh

in 2016

Vietnam

21.9

in 2016

Bangladesh rank

181st

Vietnam rank

182nd

Mean body mass index (BMI) in women over time

Bangladesh
Vietnam

How they compare

Bangladesh currently reports 22 against 21.9 in Vietnam, a difference of 0.1.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 42 shared years of data; in 1975 it was Vietnam ahead.

Bangladesh ranks 181st and Vietnam ranks 182nd of 190 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, Bangladesh averaged higher in 1 and Vietnam in 4.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Bangladesh	Vietnam	Difference	Ahead
1970s	16.78	18.04	1.26	Vietnam
1980s	17.84	18.66	0.82	Vietnam
1990s	19.11	19.5	0.39	Vietnam
2000s	20.42	20.46	0.04	Vietnam
2010s	21.57	21.47	0.1	Bangladesh

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher mean body mass index (bmi) in women, Bangladesh or Vietnam?: Bangladesh, at 22 against 21.9 in Vietnam as of 2016.
What is the difference in mean body mass index (bmi) in women between Bangladesh and Vietnam?: 0.1, with Bangladesh ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Bangladesh and Vietnam?: 42 years are reported by both, from 1975 to 2016.
How do Bangladesh and Vietnam rank globally for mean body mass index (bmi) in women?: Bangladesh ranks 181st and Vietnam ranks 182nd of 190 countries.
Where does this data come from?: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Mean body mass index (BMI) in women. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Bangladesh vs Vietnam: Mean body mass index (BMI) in women. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/compare/mean-body-mass-index-bmi-in-adult-women/bangladesh/viet-nam/

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<a href="https://gender.statizoid.com/compare/mean-body-mass-index-bmi-in-adult-women/bangladesh/viet-nam/">Bangladesh vs Vietnam: Mean body mass index (BMI) in women</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Mean body mass index (BMI) in women
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 190 places, 7,980 data points, 1975–2016
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Body mass index (BMI) is measured as a person's weight in kilograms (kg) divided by her height (in meters), squared. The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as 'underweight'; 18.5 to <25 as 'normal/healthy'; 25.0 to <30 as 'overweight'; and >30.0 as 'obese'.