Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Zambia
Zambia: Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) was 10.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Zambia, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Zambia is 10.1%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.9% on the previous year and up 64.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Zambia peaked at 10.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1980.
Zambia ranks 170th 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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.3% | — |
| 1981 | 1.3% | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 1.3% | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 1.4% | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 1.4% | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 1.5% | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 1.5% | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 1.6% | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 1.6% | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 1.7% | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 1.8% | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 1.8% | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 1.9% | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 2.1% | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 2.2% | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 2.3% | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 2.4% | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 2.6% | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 2.9% | +5.7% |
| 2001 | 3.0% | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 3.2% | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 3.4% | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 3.6% | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 3.8% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 4.2% | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 4.5% | +5.4% |
| 2009 | 4.7% | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 5.0% | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 5.2% | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 5.5% | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 5.8% | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 6.4% | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 6.8% | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 7.1% | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 7.5% | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 7.9% | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 8.3% | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 8.7% | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 9.1% | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 9.6% | +4.9% |
| 2024 | 10.1% | +4.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 2.9% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.3% | 5.0% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.2% | 8.3% | 10.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 167 Tanzania, United Republic of 10.5% compare
- 168 Kenya 10.4% compare
- 169 Senegal 10.3% compare
- 171 Philippines 9.7% compare
- 172 Guinea 9.4% compare
- 173 Mozambique 9.4% compare
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Zambia?
- Obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) in Zambia was 10.1% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1980.
- How does Zambia rank for obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate)?
- Zambia ranks 170th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2 (crude estimate) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).