Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Northern America
Northern America: Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) was 39.4 % in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Northern America, 2000–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Northern America is 39.4 %, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Northern America peaked at 39.4 % in 2024 and was at its lowest, 26.7 %, in 2000.
That places Northern America 2nd out of 37 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Northern America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 26.7 % | — |
| 2001 | 27.7 % | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 28.6 % | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 29.5 % | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 30.3 % | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 31.2 % | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 32 % | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 32.7 % | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 33.4 % | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 34.1 % | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 34.7 % | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 35.2 % | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 35.6 % | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 36.1 % | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 36.5 % | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 36.9 % | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 37.2 % | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 37.6 % | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 37.9 % | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 38.2 % | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 38.4 % | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 38.7 % | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 38.9 % | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 39.1 % | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 39.4 % | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.62 % | 26.7 % | 34.1 % | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.59 % | 34.7 % | 38.2 % | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.9 % | 38.4 % | 39.4 % | 5 |
Countries ranked near Northern America
- 1 American Samoa 75.9 % compare
- 1 Polynesia 59.1 % compare
- 2 Micronesia (Federated States of) 48.6 % compare
- 2 Tonga 73.8 % compare
- 3 Cook Islands 72.4 % compare
- 3 Micronesia 46.8 % compare
- 4 Nauru 71.4 % compare
- 4 Syrian Arab Republic 33 % compare
- 5 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 29.7 % compare
- 5 Tokelau 70.7 % compare
More agriculture & rural data for Northern America
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Production, annual growth rate -0.3573 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Area harvested, annual growth rate -8.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Production, annual growth rate -0.9634 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Yield, annual growth rate 1.44 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Area harvested, annual growth rate -2.37 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cattle and Buffaloes — Stocks, annual growth rate -1.94 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Producing Animals/Slaughtered -3.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Raw milk of cattle — Milk Animals, annual growth rate -0.5067 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep — Stocks, annual growth rate -2.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sheep fat, unrendered — Production, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Northern America?
- Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Northern America was 39.4 % in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) recorded in Northern America?
- The highest recorded value was 39.4 % in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) recorded in Northern America?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.7 % in 2000.
- How does Northern America rank for prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older)?
- Northern America ranks 2nd out of 37 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) rising or falling in Northern America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Northern America data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) (percent) — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Suite of Food Security Indicators presents the core set of food security indicators. Following the recommendation of experts gathered in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Round Table on hunger measurement, hosted at FAO headquarters in September 2011, an initial set of indicators aiming to capture various aspects of food insecurity is presented here. The choice of the indicators has been informed by expert judgement and the availability of data with sufficient coverage to enable comparisons across regions and over time. Many of these indicators are produced and published elsewhere by FAO and other international organizations. They are reported here in a single database with the aim of building a wide food security information system. More indicators will be added to this set as more data will become available. Indicators are classified along the four dimensions of food security -- availability, access, utilization and stability.