Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Ghana
Ghana: Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese was 16.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Ghana, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 16.3% for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 42.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Ghana peaked at 16.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 1980.
That places Ghana 144th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.6% | — |
| 1981 | 1.7% | +4.8% |
| 1982 | 1.7% | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 1.8% | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 1.9% | +5.6% |
| 1985 | 2.1% | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 2.2% | +6.0% |
| 1987 | 2.3% | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 2.5% | +6.3% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 2.8% | +6.8% |
| 1991 | 3.0% | +7.0% |
| 1992 | 3.2% | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 3.4% | +7.1% |
| 1994 | 3.7% | +7.2% |
| 1995 | 4.0% | +7.2% |
| 1996 | 4.2% | +7.2% |
| 1997 | 4.5% | +7.2% |
| 1998 | 4.9% | +7.2% |
| 1999 | 5.2% | +7.2% |
| 2000 | 5.6% | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 6.0% | +6.9% |
| 2002 | 6.4% | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 6.8% | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 7.2% | +6.3% |
| 2005 | 7.6% | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 8.1% | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 8.5% | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 9.0% | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 9.4% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 9.8% | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 10.2% | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 10.6% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 11.0% | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 11.5% | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 11.9% | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 12.4% | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 12.9% | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 13.4% | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 13.9% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 14.4% | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 14.9% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 15.4% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 15.8% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 16.3% | +3.0% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 16.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.1%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 16.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.0%, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.0% | 1.6% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.9% | 2.8% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.5% | 5.6% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.8% | 9.8% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.4% | 14.4% | 16.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5623 % 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 0.06 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % 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 Ghana?
- Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Ghana was 16.3% 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 16.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 1980.
- How does Ghana rank for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese?
- Ghana ranks 144th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.
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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.