Mean BMI (kg/m²) in United States
United States: Mean BMI (kg/m²) was 28.9 in 2016. ▲ Rising
Mean BMI (kg/m²) in United States, 1975–2016
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mean bmi (kg/m²) in United States is 28.9, measured in 2016. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean bmi (kg/m²) in United States peaked at 28.9 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 24.9, in 1975.
United States ranks 18th of 189 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Mean BMI (kg/m²) in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 24.9 | — |
| 1976 | 25 | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 25 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 25.1 | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 25.2 | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 25.2 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 25.3 | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 25.4 | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 25.5 | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 25.6 | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 25.7 | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 25.8 | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 25.9 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 26 | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 26.1 | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 26.2 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 26.3 | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 26.5 | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 26.6 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 26.7 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 26.9 | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 27 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 27.1 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 27.3 | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 27.4 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 27.5 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 27.7 | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 27.8 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 27.9 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 28 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 28.1 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 28.2 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 28.3 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 28.4 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 28.4 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 28.5 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 28.6 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 28.6 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 28.7 | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 28.8 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 28.8 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 28.9 | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25.04 | 24.9 | 25.2 | 5 |
| 1980s | 25.65 | 25.2 | 26.1 | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.8 | 26.2 | 27.4 | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.03 | 27.5 | 28.4 | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.7 | 28.5 | 28.9 | 7 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,069 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,015 (2100)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, annual growth rate 2.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female, per capita 0.0994 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita 0.0845 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean bmi (kg/m²) in United States?
- Mean bmi (kg/m²) in United States was 28.9 in 2016, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest mean bmi (kg/m²) recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 28.9 in 2016.
- What is the lowest mean bmi (kg/m²) recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.9 in 1975.
- How does United States rank for mean bmi (kg/m²)?
- United States ranks 18th out of 189 countries with data for 2016.
- Is mean bmi (kg/m²) rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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).