Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) was 30.7 % in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Southern Africa, 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 Southern Africa is 30.7 %, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Southern Africa peaked at 30.7 % in 2024 and was at its lowest, 21.3 %, in 2000.
That places Southern Africa 9th out of 37 groups 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 Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21.3 % | — |
| 2001 | 22 % | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 22.6 % | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 23.3 % | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 23.9 % | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 24.5 % | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 25 % | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 25.5 % | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 26 % | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 26.4 % | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 26.8 % | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 27.1 % | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 27.3 % | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 27.6 % | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 27.8 % | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 28.1 % | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 28.4 % | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 28.7 % | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 28.9 % | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 29.2 % | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 29.5 % | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 29.7 % | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 30.1 % | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 30.4 % | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 30.7 % | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.05 % | 21.3 % | 26.4 % | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.99 % | 26.8 % | 29.2 % | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.08 % | 29.5 % | 30.7 % | 5 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
- 6 Niue 66.9 % compare
- 6 Türkiye 28.8 % compare
- 7 Tuvalu 65.1 % compare
- 7 Melanesia 28.5 % compare
- 8 Samoa 64.3 % compare
- 9 French Polynesia 49.2 % compare
- 9 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 24.6 % compare
- 10 Bahamas 48.3 % compare
- 10 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 23 % compare
- 11 Republic of Moldova 22.3 % compare
- 11 Saint Kitts and Nevis 46.7 % compare
- 12 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 12 % compare
- 12 Kiribati 45.6 % compare
More agriculture & rural data for Southern Africa
- Cereals, primary — Yield, annual growth rate -18.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Eggs Primary — Laying, annual growth rate 0.0881 % change on previous year (2024)
- Eggs Primary — Production, annual growth rate -9.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Eggs Primary — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth rate -9.64 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Production, annual growth rate 1.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Yield, annual growth rate 1.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Citrus Fruit, Total — Area harvested, annual growth rate -0.2717 % change on previous year (2024)
- Cereals, primary — Production, annual growth rate -19.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth 6.41 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Production, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Southern Africa?
- Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Southern Africa was 30.7 % 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 Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 30.7 % in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.3 % in 2000.
- How does Southern Africa rank for prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older)?
- Southern Africa ranks 9th out of 37 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern Africa 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.