Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in Korea
Korea: Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard was 16.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in Korea, 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 Korea is 16.4%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 36.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Korea peaked at 16.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1980.
That places Korea 54th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.4% | — |
| 1981 | 1.5% | +9.2% |
| 1982 | 1.7% | +9.4% |
| 1983 | 1.8% | +9.5% |
| 1984 | 2.0% | +9.7% |
| 1985 | 2.2% | +9.9% |
| 1986 | 2.4% | +10.2% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | +10.3% |
| 1988 | 3.0% | +10.2% |
| 1989 | 3.3% | +10.0% |
| 1990 | 3.6% | +9.6% |
| 1991 | 3.9% | +9.3% |
| 1992 | 4.2% | +8.9% |
| 1993 | 4.6% | +8.4% |
| 1994 | 5.0% | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 5.4% | +7.9% |
| 1996 | 5.8% | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 6.2% | +7.8% |
| 1998 | 6.7% | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 7.2% | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 7.7% | +7.1% |
| 2001 | 8.3% | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 8.8% | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 9.2% | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 9.7% | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 10.0% | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 10.4% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 10.7% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 10.9% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 11.1% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 11.3% | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 11.5% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 11.6% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 11.8% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 12.0% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 12.3% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 12.6% | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 13.0% | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 13.4% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 13.9% | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 14.4% | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 14.9% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 15.4% | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 15.9% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 16.4% | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.2% | 1.4% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.3% | 3.6% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.7% | 7.7% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.3% | 11.3% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.4% | 14.4% | 16.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Korea
More health data for Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 Korea?
- Obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Korea was 16.4% 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 Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 16.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1980.
- How does Korea rank for obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard?
- Korea ranks 54th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Korea 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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