Mean BMI (kg/m²) in Europe (WHO region)
Europe (WHO region): Mean BMI (kg/m²) was 26.4 in 2016. ▲ Rising
Latest (2016)
26.4
Change on year
unchanged
Rank
3rd
of 12 groups
All-time high
26.4
in 2015
All-time low
24.4
in 1975
Years of data
42
1975–2016
Mean BMI (kg/m²) in Europe (WHO region), 1975–2016
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mean bmi (kg/m²) in Europe (WHO region) is 26.4, measured in 2016. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean bmi (kg/m²) in Europe (WHO region) peaked at 26.4 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 24.4, in 1975.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Mean BMI (kg/m²) in Europe (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 24.4 | — |
| 1976 | 24.4 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 24.5 | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 24.5 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 24.6 | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 24.6 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 24.7 | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 24.7 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 24.8 | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 24.8 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 24.9 | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 24.9 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 25 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 25 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 25 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 25.1 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 25.1 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 25.2 | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 25.2 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 25.3 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 25.3 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 25.4 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 25.5 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 25.5 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 25.6 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 25.6 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 25.7 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 25.8 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 25.8 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 25.9 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 25.9 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 26 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 26 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 26.1 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 26.1 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 26.2 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 26.2 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 26.3 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 26.3 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 26.3 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 26.4 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 26.4 | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24.48 | 24.4 | 24.6 | 5 |
| 1980s | 24.84 | 24.6 | 25 | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.32 | 25.1 | 25.6 | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.89 | 25.6 | 26.1 | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.3 | 26.2 | 26.4 | 7 |
Countries ranked near Europe (WHO region)
More health data for Europe (WHO region)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38,686 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 85 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 199 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 52,021 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -74.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -82.58 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -33.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases 85 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases 199 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases 38,686 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean bmi (kg/m²) in Europe (WHO region)?
- Mean bmi (kg/m²) in Europe (WHO region) was 26.4 in 2016, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest mean bmi (kg/m²) recorded in Europe (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 26.4 in 2015.
- What is the lowest mean bmi (kg/m²) recorded in Europe (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.4 in 1975.
- How does Europe (WHO region) rank for mean bmi (kg/m²)?
- Europe (WHO region) ranks 3rd out of 12 groups with data for 2016.
- Is mean bmi (kg/m²) rising or falling in Europe (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe (WHO region) data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Mean BMI (kg/m²) (age-standardized estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).