Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) was 40.1 % in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Saudi Arabia, 2000–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Saudi Arabia stood at 40.1 %. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Saudi Arabia peaked at 40.1 % in 2024 and was at its lowest, 27.3 %, in 2000.
That places Saudi Arabia 21st out of 184 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 27.3 % | — |
| 2001 | 28 % | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 28.7 % | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 29.4 % | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 30.1 % | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 30.7 % | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 31.4 % | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 32 % | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 32.7 % | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 33.4 % | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 34 % | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 34.6 % | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 35.1 % | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 35.7 % | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 36.1 % | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 36.6 % | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 37.1 % | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 37.5 % | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 38 % | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 38.4 % | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 38.8 % | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 39.2 % | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 39.5 % | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 39.8 % | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 40.1 % | +0.8% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 40.1 % is above the median for high income countries, which is 28 %, 1.4× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 40.1 % is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 30.7 %, 1.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.37 % | 27.3 % | 33.4 % | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.31 % | 34 % | 38.4 % | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.48 % | 38.8 % | 40.1 % | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More agriculture & rural data for Saudi Arabia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0259 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 894.48 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 3.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1539 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Saudi Arabia?
- Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Saudi Arabia was 40.1 % 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 40.1 % in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.3 % in 2000.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older)?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 21st out of 184 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.