Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 8.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Republic of Korea, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Republic of Korea is 8.4%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.4% on the previous year and up 82.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Republic of Korea peaked at 8.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 1980.
That places Republic of Korea 179th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.1% | — |
| 1981 | 1.2% | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 1.2% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 1.2% | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 1.3% | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 1.3% | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 1.3% | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 1.4% | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 1.4% | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 1.5% | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 1.5% | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 1.6% | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 1.7% | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 1.8% | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 1.9% | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 2.0% | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 2.0% | +4.3% |
| 1998 | 2.1% | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 2.2% | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 2.3% | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 2.4% | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 2.9% | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 3.7% | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 4.1% | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 4.6% | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | +6.0% |
| 2017 | 5.4% | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 5.8% | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 6.1% | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 6.5% | +6.3% |
| 2021 | 6.9% | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 7.4% | +6.4% |
| 2023 | 7.9% | +6.4% |
| 2024 | 8.4% | +6.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.9% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.9% | 2.3% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.8% | 3.7% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.4% | 6.5% | 8.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
- 176 China 9.3% compare
- 177 Lao People's Democratic Republic 9.2% compare
- 178 South Sudan 8.9% compare
- 180 Sierra Leone 8.2% compare
- 181 Myanmar 8.1% compare
- 182 India 8.0% compare
More health data for Republic of Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate -3.55 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 0.1329 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0367 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Republic of Korea?
- Obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Republic of Korea was 8.4% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 8.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 1980.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Republic of Korea ranks 179th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 82.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).