Obesity in men vs. women in China
China: Obesity in men vs. women was 10.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Obesity in men vs. women in China, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, obesity in men vs. women in China stood at 10.0%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.1% on the previous year and up 103.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity in men vs. women in China peaked at 10.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1980.
That places China 144th out of 199 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 in men vs. women in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.3% | — |
| 1981 | 0.4% | +7.3% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | +8.0% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | +8.5% |
| 1984 | 0.5% | +8.9% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | +9.2% |
| 1986 | 0.5% | +9.5% |
| 1987 | 0.6% | +9.7% |
| 1988 | 0.6% | +9.8% |
| 1989 | 0.7% | +9.8% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | +9.6% |
| 1991 | 0.9% | +9.4% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | +9.1% |
| 1993 | 1.0% | +8.7% |
| 1994 | 1.1% | +8.4% |
| 1995 | 1.2% | +8.1% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | +7.9% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | +7.7% |
| 1998 | 1.5% | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 1.6% | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | +7.6% |
| 2001 | 1.8% | +7.5% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | +8.0% |
| 2006 | 2.7% | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 2.9% | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 3.4% | +8.1% |
| 2010 | 3.7% | +7.8% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | +7.5% |
| 2012 | 4.2% | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 4.6% | +7.7% |
| 2014 | 4.9% | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 5.3% | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 6.1% | +7.5% |
| 2018 | 6.6% | +7.3% |
| 2019 | 7.1% | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 7.6% | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 8.1% | +7.2% |
| 2022 | 8.7% | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 9.3% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | 10.0% | +7.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 1.7% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 3.7% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 7.6% | 10.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 141 South Korea 10.4% compare
- 142 Yemen 10.3% compare
- 143 Sao Tome and Principe 10.3% compare
- 145 Bhutan 9.8% compare
- 146 Cameroon 9.5% compare
- 147 North Korea 9.2% compare
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 9.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0153 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 7.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0122 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity in men vs. women in China?
- Obesity in men vs. women in China was 10.0% in 2024, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest obesity in men vs. women recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 10.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity in men vs. women recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1980.
- How does China rank for obesity in men vs. women?
- China ranks 144th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity in men vs. women rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 103.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Obesity in men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Obesity is defined as having a body-mass index (BMI) equal to, or greater than, 30. BMI is a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in meters) squared.