Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in Africa (WHO region)
Africa (WHO region): Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard was 4.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.7%
Change on year
up 4.0%
Rank
11th
of 11 groups
All-time high
4.7%
in 2024
All-time low
0.5%
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in Africa (WHO region), 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
Africa (WHO region) recorded 4.7% for obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.0% on the previous year and up 46.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Africa (WHO region) peaked at 4.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1980.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in Africa (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.5% | — |
| 1981 | 0.6% | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 0.6% | +3.7% |
| 1983 | 0.6% | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 0.6% | +4.4% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | +5.5% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 0.8% | +6.2% |
| 1989 | 0.8% | +6.3% |
| 1990 | 0.9% | +6.5% |
| 1991 | 1.0% | +6.5% |
| 1992 | 1.0% | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 1.1% | +6.3% |
| 1994 | 1.1% | +6.4% |
| 1995 | 1.2% | +6.4% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | +6.3% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | +6.4% |
| 1998 | 1.5% | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 1.6% | +6.6% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | +6.6% |
| 2001 | 1.8% | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 2.0% | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 2.1% | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 2.5% | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 2.6% | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 2.9% | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 3.0% | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 3.1% | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 3.6% | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 4.0% | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 4.3% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 4.5% | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 4.7% | +4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.2% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.7% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 2.8% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa (WHO region)
More health data for Africa (WHO region)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1,654 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 179,400 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,261 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,578 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 12,202 (2025)
- Number of under-five deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of neonatal deaths, annual growth rate -0.0365 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8695 % change on previous year (2024)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -8.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 160.28 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Africa (WHO region)?
- Obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Africa (WHO region) was 4.7% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard recorded in Africa (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 4.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard recorded in Africa (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1980.
- How does Africa (WHO region) rank for obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard?
- Africa (WHO region) ranks 11th out of 11 groups with data for 2024.
- Is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard rising or falling in Africa (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa (WHO region) data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard deviations above the median (crude estimate) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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