Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard was 20.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
20.0%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
30th
of 198 countries
All-time high
20.0%
in 2024
All-time low
4.7%
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Obesity among children and adolescents, BMI-for-age > +2 standard in United Arab Emirates, 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 United Arab Emirates is 20.0%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 18.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in United Arab Emirates peaked at 20.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.7%, in 1980.
United Arab Emirates ranks 30th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4.7% | — |
| 1981 | 4.9% | +4.6% |
| 1982 | 5.1% | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 5.4% | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 5.6% | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 5.9% | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 6.2% | +5.3% |
| 1987 | 6.6% | +5.3% |
| 1988 | 6.9% | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 7.3% | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 7.7% | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 8.1% | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 8.5% | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 8.9% | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 9.3% | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 9.7% | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 10.1% | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 10.5% | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 11.0% | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 11.4% | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 11.9% | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 12.3% | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 12.7% | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 13.2% | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 13.6% | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 14.0% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 14.4% | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 14.7% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 15.1% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 15.4% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 15.7% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 16.0% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 16.3% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 16.6% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 16.9% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 17.2% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 17.5% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 17.8% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 18.2% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 18.5% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 18.8% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 19.1% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 19.4% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 19.7% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 20.0% | +1.5% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 20.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 15.5%, 1.3× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 20.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 14.7%, 1.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.9% | 4.7% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.5% | 7.7% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.7% | 11.9% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.1% | 15.7% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.4% | 18.8% | 20.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More health data for United Arab Emirates
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.3472 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 308.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 287 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 6.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0264 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 3.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in United Arab Emirates?
- Obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard in United Arab Emirates was 20.0% 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 20.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.7% in 1980.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 30th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity among children and adolescents, bmi-for-age > +2 standard rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates 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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