Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Malaysia

Malaysia: Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 23.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
23.6%
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
103rd
of 198 countries
All-time high
23.6%
in 2024
All-time low
2.5%
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024

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

05101520251980200220241980: 2.51981: 2.71982: 2.81983: 31984: 3.21985: 3.51986: 3.71987: 41988: 4.21989: 4.51990: 4.91991: 5.21992: 5.51993: 5.91994: 6.31995: 6.71996: 7.21997: 7.71998: 8.21999: 8.72000: 9.22001: 9.82002: 10.32003: 10.92004: 11.42005: 122006: 12.62007: 13.12008: 13.72009: 14.32010: 14.92011: 15.52012: 162013: 16.62014: 17.22015: 17.82016: 18.52017: 19.12018: 19.72019: 20.32020: 212021: 21.62022: 22.32023: 22.92024: 23.6

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

Malaysia recorded 23.6% for obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.

The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 37.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Malaysia peaked at 23.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 1980.

That places Malaysia 103rd out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

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 Malaysia, year by year

Annual values for Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) (%) in Malaysia, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 2.5%
1981 2.7% +6.4%
1982 2.8% +6.6%
1983 3.0% +6.7%
1984 3.2% +6.9%
1985 3.5% +7.0%
1986 3.7% +7.1%
1987 4.0% +7.1%
1988 4.2% +7.1%
1989 4.5% +7.1%
1990 4.9% +7.0%
1991 5.2% +6.9%
1992 5.5% +6.8%
1993 5.9% +6.7%
1994 6.3% +6.7%
1995 6.7% +6.7%
1996 7.2% +6.6%
1997 7.7% +6.6%
1998 8.2% +6.6%
1999 8.7% +6.4%
2000 9.2% +6.2%
2001 9.8% +5.9%
2002 10.3% +5.5%
2003 10.9% +5.3%
2004 11.4% +5.1%
2005 12.0% +5.0%
2006 12.6% +4.8%
2007 13.1% +4.6%
2008 13.7% +4.4%
2009 14.3% +4.3%
2010 14.9% +4.1%
2011 15.5% +3.9%
2012 16.0% +3.8%
2013 16.6% +3.7%
2014 17.2% +3.6%
2015 17.8% +3.6%
2016 18.5% +3.5%
2017 19.1% +3.4%
2018 19.7% +3.3%
2019 20.3% +3.2%
2020 21.0% +3.1%
2021 21.6% +3.1%
2022 22.3% +3.0%
2023 22.9% +3.0%
2024 23.6% +2.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 3.4% 2.5% 4.5% 10
1990s 6.6% 4.9% 8.7% 10
2000s 11.7% 9.2% 14.3% 10
2010s 17.6% 14.9% 20.3% 10
2020s 22.3% 21.0% 23.6% 5

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 100 Algeria 24.3% compare
  2. 101 Bulgaria 24.0% compare
  3. 102 Cyprus 23.7% compare
  4. 104 Pakistan 23.5% compare
  5. 105 Iceland 23.5% compare
  6. 106 Israel 23.3% compare

See the full ranking of 211 places →

More health data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Malaysia?
Obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Malaysia was 23.6% 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 Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 23.6% in 2024.
What is the lowest obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 1980.
How does Malaysia rank for obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
Malaysia ranks 103rd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
Is obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malaysia 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 Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/obesity-among-adults-bmi-30-kg-m2-crude-estimate-percent/malaysia/

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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