Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Malawi
Malawi: Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 6.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.7%
Change on year
up 4.9%
World rank
185th
of 198 countries
All-time high
6.7%
in 2024
All-time low
0.7%
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Malawi, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 6.7% for obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.9% on the previous year and up 65.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Malawi peaked at 6.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1980.
That places Malawi 185th 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 (crude estimate) in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.7% | — |
| 1981 | 0.7% | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 0.7% | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 0.8% | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 0.8% | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 0.9% | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 1.0% | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 1.0% | +5.3% |
| 1991 | 1.1% | +5.4% |
| 1992 | 1.1% | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 1.2% | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 1.3% | +5.9% |
| 1995 | 1.3% | +6.0% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | +6.2% |
| 1997 | 1.5% | +6.4% |
| 1998 | 1.6% | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 1.7% | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 1.8% | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 1.9% | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 2.2% | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | +6.0% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 2.7% | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 2.9% | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 3.2% | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 3.4% | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 3.8% | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 4.0% | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 4.3% | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 4.5% | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 4.7% | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 5.3% | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 5.8% | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 6.1% | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 6.4% | +4.9% |
| 2024 | 6.7% | +4.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | 1.0% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 1.8% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.2% | 3.2% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.1% | 5.5% | 6.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 182 Republic of Korea 7.5% compare
- 183 Sierra Leone 7.3% compare
- 184 Burkina Faso 7.0% compare
- 186 Chad 6.3% compare
- 187 Niger 6.0% compare
- 188 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 5.9% compare
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 30-34, female, annual growth rate 2.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per capita 0.036 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate 3.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0331 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Malawi?
- Obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Malawi was 6.7% 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 6.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude 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 (crude estimate)?
- Malawi ranks 185th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.9%. 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 (crude estimate) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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