Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Switzerland
Switzerland: Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese was 21.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Switzerland, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 21.7% for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Switzerland peaked at 22.8% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 13.1%, in 1980.
Switzerland ranks 120th 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 13.1% | — |
| 1981 | 13.5% | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 13.8% | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 14.2% | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 14.6% | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 15.0% | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 15.4% | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 15.9% | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 16.3% | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 16.7% | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 17.1% | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 17.6% | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 18.0% | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 18.4% | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 18.8% | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 19.2% | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 19.5% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 19.9% | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 20.2% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 20.6% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 21.0% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 21.3% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 21.6% | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 21.8% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 22.0% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 22.2% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 22.3% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 22.5% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 22.6% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 22.7% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 22.8% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 22.8% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 22.8% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 22.8% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 22.7% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 22.6% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 22.6% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 22.5% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 22.4% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 22.3% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 22.2% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 22.1% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 22.0% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 21.8% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 21.7% | -0.6% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 21.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 30.7%, 71% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 21.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 25.1%, 87% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14.8% | 13.1% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.9% | 17.1% | 20.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.0% | 21.0% | 22.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.6% | 22.3% | 22.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.0% | 21.7% | 22.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 117 South Africa 21.8% compare
- 118 Afghanistan 21.8% compare
- 119 North Korea 21.7% compare
- 121 Lithuania 21.6% compare
- 122 Belgium 21.1% compare
- 123 Israel 20.8% compare
More health data for Switzerland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.13 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,104 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 46 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.0481 % 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 0.0233 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.0927 % 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 Switzerland?
- Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Switzerland was 21.7% 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 22.8% in 2011.
- What is the lowest share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.1% in 1980.
- How does Switzerland rank for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese?
- Switzerland ranks 120th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.