Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in Europe (WHO region)
Europe (WHO region): Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard was 10.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
10.3%
Change on year
up 0.9%
Rank
6th
of 11 groups
All-time high
10.3%
in 2024
All-time low
3.8%
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in Europe (WHO region), 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Europe (WHO region) stood at 10.3%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Europe (WHO region) peaked at 10.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 1980.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in Europe (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.8% | — |
| 1981 | 3.9% | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 4.0% | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 4.2% | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 4.3% | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 4.4% | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 4.5% | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 4.7% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 4.8% | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 5.0% | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 5.1% | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 5.3% | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 5.4% | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 5.6% | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 5.7% | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 5.9% | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 6.1% | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 6.3% | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 6.5% | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 6.7% | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 6.9% | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 7.1% | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 7.3% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 7.6% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 8.0% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 8.3% | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 8.5% | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 8.7% | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 8.9% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 9.0% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 9.1% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 9.2% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 9.3% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 9.3% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 9.4% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 9.5% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 9.6% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 9.6% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 9.7% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 9.9% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 10.0% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 10.1% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 10.2% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 10.3% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.4% | 3.8% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.8% | 5.1% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.9% | 6.9% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.4% | 9.0% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.1% | 9.9% | 10.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Europe (WHO region)
More health data for Europe (WHO region)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 199 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38,686 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 85 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 52,021 (2025)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Number of under-five deaths, annual growth rate -8.58 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, annual growth rate -5.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of neonatal deaths, annual growth rate -3.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -74.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -82.58 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Europe (WHO region)?
- Obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Europe (WHO region) was 10.3% 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 Europe (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 10.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard recorded in Europe (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 1980.
- How does Europe (WHO region) rank for obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard?
- Europe (WHO region) ranks 6th out of 11 groups with data for 2024.
- Is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard rising or falling in Europe (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe (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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