Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Thailand
Thailand: Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese was 27.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Thailand, 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 Thailand is 27.7%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 36.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Thailand peaked at 27.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 1980.
That places Thailand 92nd 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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.3% | — |
| 1981 | 3.5% | +6.2% |
| 1982 | 3.7% | +6.3% |
| 1983 | 3.9% | +6.5% |
| 1984 | 4.2% | +6.7% |
| 1985 | 4.5% | +6.9% |
| 1986 | 4.8% | +7.1% |
| 1987 | 5.1% | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 5.5% | +7.2% |
| 1989 | 5.9% | +7.1% |
| 1990 | 6.3% | +7.1% |
| 1991 | 6.7% | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 7.2% | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 7.7% | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 8.3% | +6.8% |
| 1995 | 8.8% | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 9.3% | +6.3% |
| 1997 | 9.9% | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 10.5% | +5.6% |
| 1999 | 11.0% | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 11.6% | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 12.2% | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 12.8% | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 13.4% | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 14.0% | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 14.6% | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 15.2% | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 15.8% | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 16.4% | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 17.1% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 17.7% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 18.4% | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 19.0% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 19.7% | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 20.4% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 21.1% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 21.8% | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 22.5% | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 23.2% | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 24.0% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 24.7% | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 25.5% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 26.2% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 27.0% | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 27.7% | +2.8% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 27.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.8%, 93% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 27.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 29.5%, 94% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.4% | 3.3% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.6% | 6.3% | 11.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.3% | 11.6% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.8% | 17.7% | 24.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.2% | 24.7% | 27.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More health data for Thailand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.6 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0316 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,582 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 677 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.01 % 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 0.0201 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.97 % 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 Thailand?
- Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in Thailand was 27.7% 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 27.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 1980.
- How does Thailand rank for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese?
- Thailand ranks 92nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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.