Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in China
China: Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard was 16.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
16.8%
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
48th
of 198 countries
All-time high
16.8%
in 2024
All-time low
0.4%
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in China, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in China is 16.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 64.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in China peaked at 16.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1980.
China ranks 48th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.4% | — |
| 1981 | 0.5% | +13.1% |
| 1982 | 0.5% | +13.1% |
| 1983 | 0.6% | +13.1% |
| 1984 | 0.7% | +13.2% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | +13.7% |
| 1986 | 0.9% | +14.3% |
| 1987 | 1.0% | +14.4% |
| 1988 | 1.2% | +14.0% |
| 1989 | 1.3% | +13.5% |
| 1990 | 1.5% | +12.6% |
| 1991 | 1.7% | +11.6% |
| 1992 | 1.9% | +10.6% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | +9.5% |
| 1994 | 2.2% | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | +8.3% |
| 1996 | 2.6% | +8.2% |
| 1997 | 2.8% | +8.2% |
| 1998 | 3.0% | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 3.3% | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 3.6% | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 3.9% | +8.7% |
| 2002 | 4.2% | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 4.6% | +9.0% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | +8.9% |
| 2005 | 5.4% | +8.7% |
| 2006 | 5.9% | +8.4% |
| 2007 | 6.4% | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 6.9% | +7.9% |
| 2009 | 7.4% | +7.6% |
| 2010 | 7.9% | +7.3% |
| 2011 | 8.5% | +7.0% |
| 2012 | 9.1% | +6.5% |
| 2013 | 9.6% | +6.2% |
| 2014 | 10.2% | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 10.8% | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 11.4% | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 12.0% | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 12.7% | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 13.4% | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 14.0% | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 14.7% | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 15.4% | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 16.1% | +4.4% |
| 2024 | 16.8% | +4.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.4% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.3% | 1.5% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 3.6% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.6% | 7.9% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.4% | 14.0% | 16.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 45 Micronesia, Federated States of 17.1% compare
- 46 Dominican Republic 17.1% compare
- 47 Trinidad and Tobago 17.0% compare
- 49 Ecuador 16.8% compare
- 50 Bulgaria 16.6% compare
- 51 Panama 16.6% compare
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in China?
- Obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in China was 16.8% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 16.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1980.
- How does China rank for obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard?
- China ranks 48th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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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