Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Ireland
Ireland: Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese was 24.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Ireland, 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 Ireland stood at 24.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Ireland peaked at 28.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 15.5%, in 1980.
That places Ireland 108th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 15.5% | — |
| 1981 | 15.9% | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 16.4% | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 17.0% | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 17.5% | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 18.0% | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 18.6% | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 19.2% | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 19.8% | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 20.4% | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 21.0% | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 21.7% | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 22.3% | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 22.9% | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 23.5% | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 24.1% | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 24.6% | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 25.2% | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 25.8% | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 26.3% | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 26.9% | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 27.4% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 27.8% | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 28.2% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 28.5% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 28.7% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 28.8% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 28.9% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 28.9% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 28.8% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 28.7% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 28.6% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 28.3% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 28.1% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 27.8% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 27.5% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 27.1% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 26.8% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 26.5% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 26.1% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 25.8% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 25.4% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 25.1% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 24.7% | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 24.3% | -1.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 24.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 30.7%, 79% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 24.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 25.1%, 97% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17.8% | 15.5% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.7% | 21.0% | 26.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.3% | 26.9% | 28.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.5% | 26.1% | 28.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.1% | 24.3% | 25.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More health data for Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.89 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,122 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 20 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7228 % 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 0.026 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6489 % 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 Ireland?
- Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Ireland was 24.3% 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 28.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.5% in 1980.
- How does Ireland rank for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese?
- Ireland ranks 108th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland 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.