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Obesity Rate

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25%

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50%

Click on a country for details.

Obesity Rates by Country 2024

Snapshot

  • Obesity, a modern epidemic, has tripled worldwide since 1975, with 13% of adults obese and 39% overweight, linked to health issues like diabetes and heart disease.

  • Pacific island nations dominate the top obese countries, with Nauru leading at 61% obesity; factors include dietary changes, fast food prevalence, and possible genetic predispositions.

  • The least obese countries, like Madagascar, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Japan, have low average BMIs due to healthy diets or, conversely, issues like famine and poverty.

When a person's weight is higher than what is considered healthy for their height, their condition is described as overweight or obese. Bodyweight results from several factors, such as poor nutritional choices, overeating, genetics, culture, and metabolism. Obesity is linked to many health complications and diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and stroke. Additionally, obesity is the leading preventable cause of preventable death. Despite the negative effects these conditions can have on one's health, more people are overweight or obese today than ever before in history. In fact, obesity is considered a modern epidemic in most parts of the world. Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975, with about 13% of adults being obese and about 39% of adults being overweight.

BMI explained

The most commonly used method of measuring obesity is the Body Mass Index, or BMI, which divides a person's weight (in kilograms) by their height (in meters) squared. Medically speaking, BMI scores break down as follows:

  • BMI under 18.5 = underweight
  • BMI 18.5 to <25 = healthy
  • BMI 25 to <30 = overweight
  • BMI 30 to <35 = obese (class 1)
  • BMI 35 to <40 = obese (class 2)
  • BMI 40 or higher = obese (class 3 - morbid)

BMI is not a perfect measure. In particular, it can sometimes give a "false positive" score to athletic individuals, whose high BMIs are due not to excess body fat, but to excess muscle. For example, extremely fit NFL quarterback Russell Wilson measured 5'11" tall and 215 pounds in 2016, which gave him a BMI of 30.0, or obese. NBA superstar and wellness enthusiast Lebron James had a BMI of 27.5 in 2012, which qualified as overweight—a clear misdiagnosis. As a result of this inaccuracy, many medical experts are switching to waist-to-height ratio, or WHtR, which compares the circumference of a person's waist to their height. If the waist is more than half the height, (or more than 6/10 the height for those over 50), that person is obese. WHtR is considered much more accurate than BMI, but is also much newer. Over time, as it is adopted by more countries, WHtR could easily replace BMI as the de facto measure of a person's weight health.

Obesity by Country

Obesity rates vary significantly by country as a result of different lifestyles and diets. There is no direct correlation between the obesity rate of a country and its economic status; however, wealthier countries tend to have more resources to implement programs, campaigns, and initiatives to raise awareness and education people about what they are consuming. These are among the healthiest countries globally. Some regions of the world, such as the South Pacific, have seen alarming increases in obesity rates within the past five years. Some governments, such as the United States government, have launched campaigns in recent years to promote healthier lifestyles and being active.

The 10 Most Obese Countries in the World

The most obese country by average BMI is the Cook Islands, which has an average BMI of 32.9. Nauru follows with 32.5, then Niue with 32.4. Samoa and Tonga both have average BMIs of 32.2. Finishing the top ten most obese countries are Tuvalu (30.8), Kiribati (30.1), Saint Lucia (30.0), Micornesia (29.7), and Egypt (29.6). What eight of these countries have in common is being located in the South Pacific. When looking at the percentage of obese adults, the list looks a little different. The most obese country by percentage of obese adults is Nauru, with 61% of adults falling in the obese category. Cook Islands fllows with 55.9%, and Palau just under that at 55.3%. Three other countries have adult populations that are over 50% obese: the Marshall Islands (52.9%), Tuvalu (51.6%), and Niue (50%). Finishing the list are Tonga (48.2%), Samoa (47.3%), Kiribati (46.0%), Micronesia (45.8%). The Pacific island nations appear prominently, with Saint Lucia and Egypt serving as the only non-Oceania countries on either list. Type 2-diabetes is a large concern among the people of many of these countries. Multiple theories exist as to why this particular region is so susceptible to obesity, including the growth of unhealthy fast food, the rise of frying as a means of food preparation, and a possible genetic predisposition toward higher BMIs.

The United States has the 12th highest obesity rate in the world at 36.2%. Obesity rates vary significantly between states](/state-rankings/obesity-rate-by-state), ranging from 23% to 38.10%. This is due to the same dietary, environmental, and cultural factors that cause variations between countries. Diet is primarily to blame, with Americans receiving mixed messages about what they should be eating and how much of it. Faced with mouth-watering advertisements served alongside campaigns promoting daily physical activity and proper nutrition, many Americans opt for fast, cheap, and filling options such as processed packaged food, fast food, and larger portions. This often leads to a diet rich in fat, calories, and sodium (the "butter, sugar, salt" trifecta) and low in vitamins and nutrients.

Top 10 Least Obese Countries in the World

When looking at average BMI, three countries tie for the least obese country in the world, with an average BMI of 21.1: Madagascar, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. Five other countries have average BMIs under 22: Timor-Leste (21.3), Burundi (21.6), Japan (21.8), China (21.9) and India (21.9). Bangladesh (22.0) and Burkina Faso (22.1) finish the list. Japan's presence here is perhaps unsurprising given that the national diet—which emphasizes seafood, freshness, modest portions, and minimal added sugar or dairy fat—is a very healthy approach (as evidenced by the fact that Japanese life expectancy is among the highest on Earth). However, many of the other countries on this list struggle with famine and poverty—which is the wrong way to achieve a low BMI.

Notes:
- Listed rates define obesity as individuals with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kilograms per square meter of body area (BMI ≥30kg/m²)

Download Table Data

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Country
Obesity Rate
Female Obesity Rate
Male Obesity Rate
Mean BMI - Female (kg/m²)
Mean BMI - Male (kg/m²)
Mean BMI - Both (kg/m²)
Data Year
American Samoa80.2%82.7%77.1%2017-2018
Tonga77.1%82.8%66.8%33.730.532.22017
Wallis and Futuna70.4%73.7%66.7%2019
Cook Islands69.8%70.7%68.7%33.132.732.92013-2015
Tokelau63.4%67.8%58.6%2005
Tuvalu62.2%55.2%70.7%31.630.030.82015
Niue61%62.7%59.2%33.331.432.42011-2012
Nauru58.1%60.5%55.7%32.732.232.52004
Kiribati56.7%0%0%31.129.030.12018
Saint Kitts and Nevis45%52.5%37.9%30.728.229.52007-2008
Marshall Islands44.1%0%0%30.428.829.62017-2018
Kuwait43.8%49.1%37.6%30.429.029.62018
Bahamas43.7%54.8%31.8%28.827.128.02019
Antigua and Barbuda43.1%60%25%27.725.726.71993
United States42.7%41.8%42.2%28.928.828.92017-2018
Libya42.4%47.4%33.8%29.226.928.12015
Qatar41.4%43.2%39.5%30.128.829.22012
Aruba40.8%36.3%46.7%2006
French Polynesia40.4%41.9%38.9%2010
Anguilla38.5%46.5%30.4%2016
New Caledonia38.4%42%34%2021
Palau38%0%0%29.629.529.52016
Micronesia37.1%49.6%27.5%31.428.129.72014
Mexico36.9%41%32.3%28.427.528.02022
Bahrain36.9%42.5%33%24.824.824.82018
Cayman Islands36.6%45%29.5%2012
Panama36.3%42.3%27.7%27.726.226.92019
Egypt35.7%48.8%24.8%31.427.829.62016-2017
British Virgin Islands35.5%43.9%28.4%2009
Chile34.4%38.4%30.3%28.127.828.02016-2017
Bermuda34.4%40%29.4%2013-2014
New Zealand34.3%0%0%28.028.128.02020-2021
Belize33.8%42.6%23.6%30.527.529.12003-2006
Barbados33.8%43.4%23.4%29.226.427.82011
Iraq33.5%42.6%25.6%29.727.828.82015
Georgia33.2%36%30.2%27.627.527.62016
Jordan32.7%48.2%36.1%29.828.329.02017
Argentina32.4%33.4%31.4%27.627.827.72018
Saint Lucia31.9%46.4%17.1%30.429.630.02012
Palestine31.6%38.8%24.7%2022
Australia31.3%30.2%32.5%26.727.627.12017-2018
Mayotte31%43%16.3%2018-2019
Oman30.7%39.3%23.2%26.326.426.32017
Russia30.3%31.4%27.5%26.425.826.22012-2014
Seychelles30.3%39%22%27.925.526.72013-2014
Northern Mariana Islands29.2%0%0%2016
Isle of Man29%27.7%31.4%2019
Gibraltar28.9%28.8%28.9%2021
Malta28.7%26.7%30.6%26.327.727.12019
Jamaica28.6%41.2%14.9%29.625.827.82016-2017
Brunei28.2%29.5%26.9%27.227.227.22015-2016
Greenland28%32%24%2018
United Arab Emirates27.8%30.6%25.1%29.428.028.42017-2018
El Salvador27.3%33.2%19.5%27.926.627.72014-2015
Lebanon27%27.5%26.6%27.427.927.62016-2017
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines26.9%40.8%13.2%28.226.327.22013-2014
South Africa26.2%41%11%29.325.027.32016
Bolivia26.2%31.8%20.8%27.725.326.62019
Brazil25.9%29.5%21.8%26.826.326.62019
Trinidad and Tobago25.7%31.7%19.4%28.626.627.62011
Grenada25.2%36.6%13.9%28.825.227.02010-2011
Costa Rica25.1%31.3%18.9%27.926.827.32008-2009
Iran25%31.2%17.2%27.025.226.12021
Ukraine24.8%29.8%20.1%26.226.926.62019
Venezuela24.6%26.7%22.2%26.826.626.72014-2017
Canada24.3%22%26.7%26.627.326.92019
Hungary23.8%22.7%25.1%26.428.227.32019
Uruguay23.7%25.1%22.1%27.327.327.42013-2014
Guyana23.6%34%14%27.725.126.42016
Kazakhstan23.5%30.6%15.9%26.426.326.42012
Ecuador23.4%27.9%18.3%27.926.627.32018
Paraguay23.2%26.6%19.9%26.926.526.72011
Kyrgyzstan23.1%29%17.6%27.225.926.62013
Croatia23%22.6%23.7%26.828.027.42019
Guadeloupe22.9%27.2%18%2007-2008
Moldova22.7%24%21.4%27.326.627.02021
Bosnia and Herzegovina22.3%24.1%20.3%25.126.425.82012
Latvia22.3%25.1%18.9%26.227.026.72019
Iceland22.3%20.5%24.3%25.527.026.22019
Nicaragua22%29.8%11.9%27.926.527.22007-2009
Martinique21.9%26.8%16.1%2007-2008
Algeria21.8%30.1%14.1%26.424.725.52016-2017
Estonia21.8%23.6%19.7%25.926.926.42019
Colombia21.3%12.6%29.4%26.625.826.22018
Albania21.3%24.4%18.1%26.327.026.72017-2018
Ireland21%20%23%27.027.927.52021-2022
Serbia20.8%20%21.7%25.526.626.12019
Azerbaijan20.6%26.5%14.7%27.926.127.12017-2018
Eswatini20.5%30.9%8.8%28.924.526.82014
Turkey20.2%23.6%16.8%28.627.127.92022
Saudi Arabia20.2%21.4%19.2%29.228.028.52019
Dominica20.2%32.7%8.6%29.025.027.02007-2008
United Kingdom20.1%20.4%19.8%27.027.327.12014
Morocco20%29%11%26.525.426.02017-2018
Slovenia19.9%18.5%21.3%26.526.626.62019
Czech Republic19.8%18%21.8%26.227.927.12019
Malaysia19.7%24.7%15.3%26.125.325.72019
Armenia19.5%25%14%27.025.626.32016
Slovakia19.1%18%20.2%25.527.326.42019
Mauritius19.1%25.8%11.1%25.924.625.22015
Germany19%19%19.1%25.827.326.62019
Poland19%18.1%20.1%25.927.426.72019
Syria18.9%22.5%15.5%29.227.428.32003
Belarus18.9%21.2%16.6%26.626.426.62020
Lithuania18.9%20.5%17%25.827.026.42019
French Guiana18.8%0%0%2014
Mongolia18.5%20.4%16.6%26.625.926.22019
Maldives18.1%22.8%14.1%26.324.625.52020-2021
Jersey18%19%17%2021
Austria17.1%15.7%18.6%24.626.525.62019
France17%17.4%16.7%24.225.925.02020
Afghanistan17%23.5%11.9%24.122.623.42018
Israel17%16.6%17.4%26.927.627.32014-2016
Portugal16.9%17.4%16.4%25.126.125.62019
Dominican Republic16.6%20.8%13%27.425.026.52013
Denmark16.5%16.6%16.3%24.426.225.32019
Luxembourg16.5%14.6%18.4%25.627.026.32019
Greece16.4%16.2%16.6%26.727.527.12019
Belgium16.3%15.6%17.2%25.626.626.12019
Gabon16.2%24.7%8%26.524.025.22019-2021
Sweden16%16%15%25.426.726.02020
Cuba15.8%18.8%12.8%26.025.225.62010
Netherlands15.5%16.5%14.4%25.126.025.62022
Ghana15%22.6%4.9%25.222.523.92016-2017
Turkmenistan15%17.5%12.7%26.626.526.62018
Vanuatu14.9%18.8%11.1%26.825.626.22013
Cyprus14.6%13.5%15.8%26.027.526.82019
Cape Verde14.3%22.5%6.7%25.323.724.52020
Norway14%12%15%26.127.326.72019
Andorra13.6%14.4%13%26.127.326.72017-2018
Tajikistan13.5%15.4%11.9%26.325.826.12016-2017
Comoros13.5%22.4%5.5%25.623.324.52011
Bulgaria13.3%11.6%15.1%25.727.126.42019-2020
Solomon Islands13.1%17.9%8.8%26.925.726.32015
Botswana11.8%19.1%5.1%26.122.524.32014
Sao Tome and Principe11.7%16.5%6.6%25.623.924.82008
Thailand11.6%0%0%25.023.924.42018
Singapore11.6%10.2%13.1%23.024.323.62021-2022
Lesotho11.5%19.6%3.1%27.022.724.92014
Bhutan11.4%14.9%8.4%24.523.523.92019
Switzerland11%10.2%12.3%23.726.725.22017
Romania10.9%10.8%11.1%26.827.026.92019
Kenya10.8%17.3%4.2%24.522.123.32022
North Macedonia10.5%9.9%11.1%26.227.326.82017
Italy10.4%9.7%11.1%24.726.525.62020-2021
Sudan10.3%14.9%6.7%2016
Sri Lanka9.6%12.6%6.4%23.722.523.12022
Philippines9.3%0%0%23.522.823.22018-2019
Mozambique9.1%13%5%23.422.022.82014
Namibia8.4%13.2%3.4%25.322.924.22013
Equatorial Guinea8.3%12.7%4.5%25.922.324.02011
Taiwan8.2%0%0%2013-2014
Zimbabwe7.7%12.6%2.3%25.322.223.82015
Malawi7.6%13%2%23.222.622.92016
Zambia7.5%12.3%3%23.721.322.62017
Nepal7.2%8.4%5.9%22.522.522.52022
Central African Republic7.2%11.6%3%23.722.022.92010
Hong Kong6.9%5.2%8.7%2020-2022
Angola6.8%10.6%2.8%24.322.323.32013-2014
Papua New Guinea6.8%8.7%5.1%26.025.325.62007-2008
China6.5%6.8%6.3%23.524.223.82015
Senegal6.4%0%0%24.021.823.02015
Laos5.6%7.1%3.5%23.122.722.92013
India5.5%6.3%4.7%21.921.721.82019-2020
Bangladesh5.4%8.6%2.3%22.021.321.72018
Niger4.9%6.3%3.9%22.321.421.82021
Uganda4.6%7.5%1.8%23.321.622.52014
Japan4.5%5.5%5.5%21.823.622.72019
Rwanda4.3%7.4%1.3%22.821.322.12021-2022
Eritrea3.4%4.9%2%21.120.220.72004
Vietnam1.7%1.7%1.7%21.921.921.92015
Timor Leste1.1%0.7%1.5%21.321.321.32016
Ethiopia1%1.5%0.4%21.120.120.62016
Indonesia0%4.5%1.3%23.822.523.12000-2001
Pakistan0%13.9%0%24.623.323.92018
Nigeria0%9.9%0%23.922.523.22018
DR Congo0%3.4%0%22.621.322.02013-2014
Tanzania0%10%0%24.122.323.22015-2016
Myanmar0%7.3%2%23.022.222.62017-2018
South Korea0%27.6%36.3%23.124.423.82007-2009
Spain0%15.5%16.5%24.827.025.92019-2020
Uzbekistan0%15.5%0%27.426.326.92017
Yemen0%8%0%24.123.623.82013
Peru0%26.6%0%27.126.226.72020
Madagascar0%2.7%0%21.121.521.32021
Ivory Coast0%14.7%0%24.223.423.82021
Cameroon0%13.6%0%25.123.624.32018
North Korea0%0%0%24.024.224.1
Mali0%8.7%0%23.122.923.02018
Burkina Faso0%7.3%0%22.122.222.22021
Chad0%2.5%0%21.921.921.92014-2015
Somalia0%15.1%0%23.922.523.22019
Guatemala0%26.1%0%27.325.726.62017
Cambodia0%6.3%0%22.322.122.22021-2022
Guinea0%8.4%0%23.422.422.92018
Benin0%9.4%0%24.522.623.52017-2018
Burundi0%1.7%0%21.621.821.72016-2017
Tunisia0%22.7%6.7%27.125.526.31997
Haiti0%11.2%0%24.226.525.32016-2017
Honduras0%22.1%0%27.625.926.82011-2012
Togo0%11.1%0%24.522.523.62013-2014
Sierra Leone0%8.1%0%23.521.922.72019
Republic of the Congo0%8.8%0%24.122.323.22011-2012
Finland0%29.6%26.9%25.526.425.92023
Liberia0%12.3%0%25.123.124.12019-2020
Mauritania0%26.9%0%26.623.224.92019-2021
Gambia0%14.2%0%24.523.424.02019-2020
Guinea Bissau0%0%0%24.022.823.4
Djibouti0%0%0%24.623.424.0
Fiji0%44.7%0%28.826.627.72021
Suriname0%27%17%27.725.426.52016-2017
Montenegro0%0%0%26.127.026.5
Samoa0%66.9%0%34.130.432.22019-2020
showing: 213 rows

What country has the highest rate of obesity?

Nauru has the highest rate of obesity in the world. Nauru's obesity rate is 61%.

Frequently Asked Questions

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