Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in China
China: Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese was 25.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in China, 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 children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in China stood at 25.2%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 28.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in China peaked at 25.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1980.
China ranks 103rd 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 China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.5% | — |
| 1981 | 1.6% | +10.8% |
| 1982 | 1.8% | +11.4% |
| 1983 | 2.0% | +12.0% |
| 1984 | 2.3% | +11.9% |
| 1985 | 2.5% | +11.8% |
| 1986 | 2.8% | +12.1% |
| 1987 | 3.2% | +12.1% |
| 1988 | 3.5% | +11.9% |
| 1989 | 4.0% | +11.6% |
| 1990 | 4.4% | +11.3% |
| 1991 | 4.9% | +10.7% |
| 1992 | 5.4% | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 5.9% | +9.3% |
| 1994 | 6.4% | +8.4% |
| 1995 | 6.8% | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 7.3% | +7.0% |
| 1997 | 7.8% | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 8.3% | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 8.8% | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 9.3% | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 9.9% | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 10.5% | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 11.2% | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 11.8% | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 12.5% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 13.2% | +5.9% |
| 2007 | 14.1% | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 14.9% | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 15.8% | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 16.7% | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 17.6% | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 18.3% | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 19.0% | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 19.7% | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 20.2% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 20.8% | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 21.4% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 21.9% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 22.5% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 23.0% | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 23.6% | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 24.2% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 24.7% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 25.2% | +2.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 25.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.8%, 84% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 25.2% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 29.5%, 85% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.5% | 1.5% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.6% | 4.4% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.3% | 9.3% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.8% | 16.7% | 22.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.1% | 23.0% | 25.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in China?
- Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in China was 25.2% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 25.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1980.
- How does China rank for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese?
- China ranks 103rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.