Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese was 21.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Afghanistan, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Afghanistan is 21.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 54.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Afghanistan peaked at 21.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 1980.
Afghanistan ranks 118th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.3% | — |
| 1981 | 2.3% | +4.2% |
| 1982 | 2.5% | +4.4% |
| 1983 | 2.6% | +4.6% |
| 1984 | 2.7% | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 2.8% | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 3.0% | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | +5.3% |
| 1988 | 3.3% | +5.4% |
| 1989 | 3.5% | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 3.7% | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 3.9% | +5.5% |
| 1992 | 4.1% | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 4.3% | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 4.6% | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 4.8% | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 5.1% | +5.9% |
| 1997 | 5.4% | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 5.8% | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 6.1% | +6.3% |
| 2000 | 6.5% | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 6.9% | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | +6.5% |
| 2003 | 7.9% | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 8.9% | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 9.4% | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 10.0% | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 10.5% | +5.6% |
| 2009 | 11.1% | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 11.7% | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 12.3% | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 12.9% | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 13.5% | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 14.2% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 14.8% | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 15.5% | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 16.3% | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 17.0% | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 17.8% | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 18.6% | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 19.4% | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 20.2% | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 21.0% | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 21.8% | +4.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 21.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.8%, 2.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 21.8% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 32.2%, 68% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.8% | 2.3% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.8% | 3.7% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.7% | 6.5% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.6% | 11.7% | 17.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.2% | 18.6% | 21.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 115 Belarus 22.9% compare
- 116 Norway 22.3% compare
- 117 South Africa 21.8% compare
- 119 North Korea 21.7% compare
- 120 Switzerland 21.7% compare
- 121 Lithuania 21.6% compare
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Afghanistan?
- Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Afghanistan was 21.8% 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 children and adolescents who are overweight or obese recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 1980.
- How does Afghanistan rank for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese?
- Afghanistan ranks 118th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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 children and adolescents who are overweight or obese. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years old that are defined as either overweight or obese. This means their weight-for-height is more than one standard deviations from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards.