Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard was 15.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
15.6%
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
63rd
of 198 countries
All-time high
15.6%
in 2024
All-time low
2.8%
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in Nicaragua, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Nicaragua stood at 15.6%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 27.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Nicaragua peaked at 15.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 1980.
That places Nicaragua 63rd out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.8% | — |
| 1981 | 2.9% | +4.8% |
| 1982 | 3.1% | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 3.2% | +5.2% |
| 1984 | 3.4% | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 3.6% | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 3.8% | +5.7% |
| 1987 | 4.0% | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 4.3% | +5.9% |
| 1989 | 4.5% | +5.9% |
| 1990 | 4.8% | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 5.1% | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 5.4% | +5.7% |
| 1993 | 5.7% | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 6.0% | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 6.3% | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 6.6% | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 6.9% | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 7.2% | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 7.6% | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 7.9% | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 8.2% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 8.5% | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 8.9% | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 9.2% | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 9.5% | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 9.8% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 10.1% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 10.4% | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 10.7% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 11.0% | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 11.3% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 11.6% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 11.9% | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 12.2% | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 12.6% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 12.9% | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 13.2% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 13.6% | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 13.9% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 14.3% | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 14.6% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 14.9% | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 15.3% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 15.6% | +2.2% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 15.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.8%, 2.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 15.6% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 19.6%, 80% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.6% | 2.8% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.1% | 4.8% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.3% | 7.9% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 11.0% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.9% | 14.3% | 15.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
- 60 Spain 15.7% compare
- 61 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 15.7% compare
- 62 North Macedonia 15.6% compare
- 64 Iran, Islamic Republic of 15.6% compare
- 65 Syrian Arab Republic 15.5% compare
- 66 Costa Rica 15.5% compare
More health data for Nicaragua
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6599 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,175 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3497 % 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 0.0458 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.323 % 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 Nicaragua?
- Obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Nicaragua was 15.6% 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 15.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 1980.
- How does Nicaragua rank for obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard?
- Nicaragua ranks 63rd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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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