Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard was 14.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
14.2%
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
77th
of 198 countries
All-time high
14.2%
in 2024
All-time low
1.4%
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in Saudi Arabia, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Saudi Arabia stood at 14.2%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 36.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Saudi Arabia peaked at 14.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1980.
Saudi Arabia ranks 77th of 198 countries on this measure, 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.4% | — |
| 1981 | 1.5% | +7.0% |
| 1982 | 1.6% | +7.2% |
| 1983 | 1.7% | +7.4% |
| 1984 | 1.8% | +7.6% |
| 1985 | 2.0% | +7.8% |
| 1986 | 2.1% | +8.0% |
| 1987 | 2.3% | +8.1% |
| 1988 | 2.5% | +8.1% |
| 1989 | 2.7% | +8.0% |
| 1990 | 2.9% | +7.8% |
| 1991 | 3.1% | +7.6% |
| 1992 | 3.3% | +7.3% |
| 1993 | 3.6% | +6.9% |
| 1994 | 3.8% | +6.6% |
| 1995 | 4.0% | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 4.3% | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 4.6% | +6.4% |
| 1998 | 4.9% | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 5.2% | +6.3% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 5.8% | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 6.2% | +6.0% |
| 2003 | 6.5% | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 6.9% | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 7.3% | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 8.0% | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 8.3% | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 8.7% | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 9.0% | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 9.4% | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 9.7% | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 10.1% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 10.4% | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 10.8% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 11.2% | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 11.5% | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 11.9% | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 12.3% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 13.0% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 13.4% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 13.8% | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 14.2% | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.9% | 1.4% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.0% | 2.9% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.1% | 5.5% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.6% | 9.0% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.4% | 12.7% | 14.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 483.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 5.31 % 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 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 5.38 % 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in Saudi Arabia was 14.2% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1980.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 77th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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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