Share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply in North Korea
North Korea: Share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply was 12.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply in North Korea, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply in North Korea stood at 12.1%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 60.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply in North Korea peaked at 12.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 1980.
That places North Korea 154th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.2% | — |
| 1981 | 1.3% | +4.7% |
| 1982 | 1.4% | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 1.4% | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 1.5% | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 1.6% | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 1.7% | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 1.7% | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 1.8% | +5.1% |
| 1989 | 1.9% | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 2.0% | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 2.1% | +5.3% |
| 1992 | 2.2% | +5.7% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | +5.9% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 2.7% | +6.1% |
| 1996 | 2.8% | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 3.0% | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 3.2% | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 3.4% | +5.9% |
| 2000 | 3.6% | +5.9% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 4.0% | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 4.2% | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 4.7% | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 5.0% | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 5.3% | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 5.5% | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 5.8% | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 6.1% | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 6.5% | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 6.8% | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 7.1% | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 7.5% | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 7.9% | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 8.3% | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 8.7% | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 9.1% | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 9.6% | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 10.0% | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 10.5% | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 11.0% | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 11.5% | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 12.1% | +4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.6% | 1.2% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.6% | 2.0% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 3.6% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.8% | 6.1% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.0% | 10.0% | 12.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More health data for North Korea
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 767 deaths (2100)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,462 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 16, male, interpolated 166,971 (2025)
- Age population, age 18, female, interpolated 159,845 (2025)
- Age population, age 17, male, interpolated 168,398 (2025)
- Age population, age 17, female, interpolated 160,530 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply in North Korea?
- Share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply in North Korea was 12.1% in 2024, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 12.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 1980.
- How does North Korea rank for share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply?
- North Korea ranks 154th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of adults who are obese vs. daily protein supply. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Obesity is defined as having a body-mass index (BMI) equal to, or greater than, 30. BMI is a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in meters) squared.