Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in India

India: Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard was 5.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
5.5%
Change on year
up 5.8%
World rank
157th
of 198 countries
All-time high
5.5%
in 2024
All-time low
0.1%
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024

Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in India, 1980–2024

02461980200220241980: 0.1321981: 0.1371982: 0.1431983: 0.1491984: 0.1561985: 0.1641986: 0.1731987: 0.1831988: 0.1941989: 0.2081990: 0.2231991: 0.2421992: 0.2631993: 0.2891994: 0.3181995: 0.3541996: 0.3961997: 0.4461998: 0.5071999: 0.582000: 0.6672001: 0.7682002: 0.8852003: 12004: 1.22005: 1.32006: 1.52007: 1.72008: 1.82009: 22010: 2.22011: 2.42012: 2.52013: 2.72014: 2.92015: 3.12016: 3.32017: 3.62018: 3.82019: 4.12020: 4.32021: 4.62022: 4.92023: 5.22024: 5.5

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

The most recent figure for obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in India is 5.5%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.8% on the previous year and up 87.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in India peaked at 5.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1980.

India ranks 157th 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 children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in India, year by year

Annual values for Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard deviations above the median (crude estimate) (%) in India, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 0.1%
1981 0.1% +3.9%
1982 0.1% +4.1%
1983 0.1% +4.3%
1984 0.2% +4.6%
1985 0.2% +5.0%
1986 0.2% +5.4%
1987 0.2% +5.9%
1988 0.2% +6.4%
1989 0.2% +6.9%
1990 0.2% +7.5%
1991 0.2% +8.2%
1992 0.3% +8.9%
1993 0.3% +9.6%
1994 0.3% +10.3%
1995 0.4% +11.1%
1996 0.4% +11.9%
1997 0.4% +12.8%
1998 0.5% +13.7%
1999 0.6% +14.4%
2000 0.7% +14.9%
2001 0.8% +15.2%
2002 0.9% +15.3%
2003 1.0% +15.0%
2004 1.2% +14.4%
2005 1.3% +13.5%
2006 1.5% +12.3%
2007 1.7% +11.5%
2008 1.8% +10.6%
2009 2.0% +9.7%
2010 2.2% +8.9%
2011 2.4% +8.2%
2012 2.5% +7.7%
2013 2.7% +7.3%
2014 2.9% +7.1%
2015 3.1% +7.0%
2016 3.3% +7.0%
2017 3.6% +7.0%
2018 3.8% +6.8%
2019 4.1% +6.7%
2020 4.3% +6.5%
2021 4.6% +6.3%
2022 4.9% +6.1%
2023 5.2% +6.0%
2024 5.5% +5.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 0.2% 0.1% 0.2% 10
1990s 0.4% 0.2% 0.6% 10
2000s 1.3% 0.7% 2.0% 10
2010s 3.1% 2.2% 4.1% 10
2020s 4.9% 4.3% 5.5% 5

Countries ranked near India

  1. 154 Japan 5.7% compare
  2. 155 Denmark 5.6% compare
  3. 156 Netherlands 5.6% compare
  4. 158 Comoros 5.5% compare
  5. 159 Kenya 5.4% compare
  6. 160 Solomon Islands 5.4% compare

See the full ranking of 211 places →

More health data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in India?
Obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in India was 5.5% 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 India?
The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 2024.
What is the lowest obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1980.
How does India rank for obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard?
India ranks 157th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
Is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 87.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this India 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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Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in India. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/obesity-among-children-and-adolescents-bmi-for-age-2-standard-deviations-above-the-median/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard deviations above the median (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
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