Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in South Africa
South Africa: 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 South Africa, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 21.8% for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in South Africa peaked at 21.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 1980.
That places South Africa 117th 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.3% | — |
| 1981 | 2.4% | +5.6% |
| 1982 | 2.5% | +5.8% |
| 1983 | 2.7% | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 2.8% | +6.0% |
| 1985 | 3.0% | +6.1% |
| 1986 | 3.2% | +6.4% |
| 1987 | 3.4% | +6.7% |
| 1988 | 3.6% | +6.9% |
| 1989 | 3.9% | +7.1% |
| 1990 | 4.2% | +7.3% |
| 1991 | 4.5% | +7.5% |
| 1992 | 4.8% | +8.1% |
| 1993 | 5.2% | +8.0% |
| 1994 | 5.7% | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 6.2% | +9.6% |
| 1996 | 6.8% | +9.6% |
| 1997 | 7.5% | +9.7% |
| 1998 | 8.2% | +9.6% |
| 1999 | 9.0% | +9.8% |
| 2000 | 9.9% | +10.0% |
| 2001 | 10.9% | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 12.0% | +9.9% |
| 2003 | 13.1% | +9.6% |
| 2004 | 14.3% | +9.0% |
| 2005 | 15.5% | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 16.7% | +7.4% |
| 2007 | 17.7% | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 18.7% | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 19.5% | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 20.1% | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 20.5% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 20.8% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 21.1% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 21.2% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 21.3% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 21.4% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 21.4% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 21.5% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 21.6% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 21.7% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 21.7% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 21.8% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 21.8% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 21.8% | +0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 21.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.8%, 73% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 21.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.0%, 1.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.3% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.2% | 4.2% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.8% | 9.9% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.1% | 20.1% | 21.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.8% | 21.7% | 21.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 114 Mongolia 23.1% compare
- 115 Belarus 22.9% compare
- 116 Norway 22.3% compare
- 118 Afghanistan 21.8% compare
- 119 North Korea 21.7% compare
- 120 Switzerland 21.7% compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % 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 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % 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 South Africa?
- Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in South Africa 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 South Africa?
- 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 South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese?
- South Africa ranks 117th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.