Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Western Africa
Western Africa: Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) was 12.8 % in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Western Africa, 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 Western Africa stood at 12.8 %. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 47.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Western Africa peaked at 12.8 % in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.5 %, in 2000.
Western Africa ranks 26th of 37 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Western Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.5 % | — |
| 2001 | 4.8 % | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 5.1 % | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 5.5 % | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 5.8 % | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 6.2 % | +6.9% |
| 2006 | 6.5 % | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 6.8 % | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 7.1 % | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 7.4 % | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 7.7 % | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 7.9 % | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 8.2 % | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 8.4 % | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 8.7 % | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 9 % | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 9.4 % | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 9.7 % | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 10.1 % | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 10.5 % | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 11 % | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 11.4 % | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 11.9 % | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 12.3 % | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 12.8 % | +4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.97 % | 4.5 % | 7.4 % | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.96 % | 7.7 % | 10.5 % | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.88 % | 11 % | 12.8 % | 5 |
Countries ranked near Western Africa
More agriculture & rural data for Western Africa
- Other fruits, n.e.c. — Area harvested, annual growth rate 1.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Beef and Buffalo Meat, primary — Production, annual growth rate -0.7481 % change on previous year (2024)
- Potatoes — Yield, annual growth rate -2.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Potatoes — Area harvested, annual growth rate -0.9609 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. — Production, annual growth rate -1.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. — Yield, annual growth rate 0.7808 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. — Area harvested, annual growth rate -2.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other fruits, n.e.c. — Production, annual growth rate 1.91 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other fruits, n.e.c. — Yield, annual growth rate 0.041 % change on previous year (2024)
- Meat of sheep, fresh or chilled — Yield/Carcass Weight, annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Western Africa?
- Prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) in Western Africa was 12.8 % 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 Western Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.8 % in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) recorded in Western Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5 % in 2000.
- How does Western Africa rank for prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older)?
- Western Africa ranks 26th out of 37 groups with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity in the adult population (18 years and older) rising or falling in Western Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western 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.