Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malawi
Malawi: Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 8.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malawi, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 8.0% for obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 60.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malawi peaked at 8.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1980.
Malawi ranks 183rd of 198 countries on this measure, 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 Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.7% | — |
| 1981 | 0.8% | +3.9% |
| 1982 | 0.8% | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 0.8% | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 0.9% | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 1.0% | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 1.0% | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 1.1% | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 1.2% | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 1.3% | +5.6% |
| 1992 | 1.3% | +5.7% |
| 1993 | 1.4% | +5.8% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 1.6% | +6.2% |
| 1996 | 1.7% | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 1.8% | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | +6.8% |
| 1999 | 2.0% | +7.0% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 2.3% | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 3.0% | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | +6.1% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 4.3% | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 4.5% | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 4.7% | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 5.0% | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 5.2% | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 6.1% | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 6.4% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 6.7% | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 7.0% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 7.3% | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 7.6% | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 8.0% | +4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6% | 1.2% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 2.2% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.1% | 4.0% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.3% | 6.7% | 8.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 5.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0084 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 2.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.006 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malawi?
- Obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in Malawi was 8.0% 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 8.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1980.
- How does Malawi rank for obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- Malawi ranks 183rd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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.
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