Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Iceland
Iceland: Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese was 24.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Iceland, 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 Iceland is 24.5%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Iceland peaked at 24.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 12.6%, in 1980.
Iceland ranks 106th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 12.6% | — |
| 1981 | 12.9% | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 13.3% | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 13.7% | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 14.1% | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 14.5% | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 15.0% | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 15.4% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 15.9% | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 16.3% | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 16.8% | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 17.2% | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 17.7% | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 18.1% | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 18.5% | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 18.9% | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 19.3% | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 19.7% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 20.1% | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 20.5% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 20.9% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 21.3% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 21.7% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 22.0% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 22.3% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 22.5% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 22.7% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 22.8% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 23.0% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 23.1% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 23.2% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 23.4% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 23.4% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 23.5% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 23.6% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 23.7% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 23.8% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 23.9% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 24.0% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 24.2% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 24.3% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 24.4% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 24.4% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 24.5% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 24.5% | +0.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 24.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 30.7%, 80% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 24.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 25.1%, 98% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14.4% | 12.6% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.7% | 16.8% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.2% | 20.9% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.7% | 23.2% | 24.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.4% | 24.3% | 24.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More health data for Iceland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2085)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4982 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,358 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 0 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.1533 % 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 0.0283 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1097 % 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 Iceland?
- Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Iceland was 24.5% 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 24.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.6% in 1980.
- How does Iceland rank for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese?
- Iceland ranks 106th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland 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.