Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea: Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 7.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
7.5%
Change on year
up 5.2%
World rank
182nd
of 198 countries
All-time high
7.5%
in 2024
All-time low
1.0%
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024

Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea, 1980–2024

024681980200220241980: 0.9941981: 11982: 1.11983: 1.11984: 1.11985: 1.21986: 1.21987: 1.31988: 1.31989: 1.41990: 1.41991: 1.51992: 1.61993: 1.71994: 1.71995: 1.81996: 1.91997: 21998: 2.11999: 2.22000: 2.32001: 2.42002: 2.62003: 2.72004: 2.82005: 32006: 3.12007: 3.32008: 3.42009: 3.62010: 3.82011: 3.92012: 4.12013: 4.32014: 4.52015: 4.72016: 52017: 5.22018: 5.52019: 5.82020: 6.12021: 6.42022: 6.82023: 7.12024: 7.5

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

The most recent figure for obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea is 7.5%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.

The figure is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 66.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea peaked at 7.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1980.

Republic of Korea ranks 182nd 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 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea, year by year

Annual values for Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) (%) in Republic of Korea, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 1.0%
1981 1.0% +2.7%
1982 1.1% +3.0%
1983 1.1% +3.3%
1984 1.1% +3.6%
1985 1.2% +3.9%
1986 1.2% +3.8%
1987 1.3% +3.8%
1988 1.3% +4.1%
1989 1.4% +4.3%
1990 1.4% +4.5%
1991 1.5% +4.8%
1992 1.6% +5.0%
1993 1.7% +5.1%
1994 1.7% +5.1%
1995 1.8% +5.1%
1996 1.9% +5.0%
1997 2.0% +5.0%
1998 2.1% +4.9%
1999 2.2% +4.9%
2000 2.3% +5.0%
2001 2.4% +5.1%
2002 2.6% +5.1%
2003 2.7% +5.0%
2004 2.8% +5.0%
2005 3.0% +5.0%
2006 3.1% +5.0%
2007 3.3% +4.9%
2008 3.4% +4.8%
2009 3.6% +4.7%
2010 3.8% +4.5%
2011 3.9% +4.5%
2012 4.1% +4.5%
2013 4.3% +4.7%
2014 4.5% +4.8%
2015 4.7% +5.0%
2016 5.0% +5.1%
2017 5.2% +5.2%
2018 5.5% +5.3%
2019 5.8% +5.3%
2020 6.1% +5.3%
2021 6.4% +5.3%
2022 6.8% +5.3%
2023 7.1% +5.3%
2024 7.5% +5.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.2% 1.0% 1.4% 10
1990s 1.8% 1.4% 2.2% 10
2000s 2.9% 2.3% 3.6% 10
2010s 4.7% 3.8% 5.8% 10
2020s 6.8% 6.1% 7.5% 5

Countries ranked near Republic of Korea

  1. 179 Uganda 8.2% compare
  2. 180 India 8.0% compare
  3. 181 Nepal 7.7% compare
  4. 183 Sierra Leone 7.3% compare
  5. 184 Burkina Faso 7.0% compare
  6. 185 Malawi 6.7% compare

See the full ranking of 211 places →

More health data for Republic of Korea

All data for Republic of Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea?
Obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea was 7.5% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Republic of Korea?
The highest recorded value was 7.5% in 2024.
What is the lowest obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Republic of Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1980.
How does Republic of Korea rank for obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
Republic of Korea ranks 182nd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
Is obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 66.5%. 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 (crude estimate) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Republic of Korea. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/obesity-among-adults-bmi-30-kg-m2-crude-estimate-percent/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) (%)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
211 places, 9,495 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed