Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese was 29.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom is 29.7%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in United Kingdom peaked at 31.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 12.2%, in 1980.
United Kingdom ranks 77th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 12.2% | — |
| 1981 | 12.8% | +5.4% |
| 1982 | 13.5% | +5.4% |
| 1983 | 14.2% | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 15.0% | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 15.8% | +5.3% |
| 1986 | 16.6% | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 17.4% | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 18.3% | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 19.2% | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 20.1% | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 21.0% | +4.5% |
| 1992 | 21.9% | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 22.8% | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 23.7% | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 24.6% | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 25.4% | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 26.3% | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 27.1% | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 27.8% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 28.5% | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 29.2% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 29.7% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 30.2% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 30.6% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 30.8% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 31.0% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 31.1% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 31.1% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 31.0% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 30.9% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 30.8% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 30.7% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 30.6% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 30.5% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 30.4% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 30.4% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 30.3% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 30.3% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 30.2% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 30.1% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 30.0% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 29.9% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 29.8% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 29.7% | -0.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 29.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 30.7%, 97% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 29.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 25.1%, 1.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.5% | 12.2% | 19.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.1% | 20.1% | 27.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.3% | 28.5% | 31.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.5% | 30.2% | 30.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.9% | 29.7% | 30.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % 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 United Kingdom?
- Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in United Kingdom was 29.7% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 31.1% in 2008.
- What is the lowest share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2% in 1980.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese?
- United Kingdom ranks 77th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.