Obesity in men vs. women in Japan
Japan: Obesity in men vs. women was 8.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Obesity in men vs. women in Japan, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for obesity in men vs. women in Japan is 8.0%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 54.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity in men vs. women in Japan peaked at 8.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1980.
That places Japan 156th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Obesity in men vs. women in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.9% | — |
| 1981 | 0.9% | +5.7% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 1.1% | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 1.2% | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 1.2% | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 1.3% | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 1.4% | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 1.5% | +5.7% |
| 1990 | 1.5% | +5.6% |
| 1991 | 1.6% | +5.5% |
| 1992 | 1.7% | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 1.8% | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 1.9% | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 2.0% | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 2.1% | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 2.2% | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 2.4% | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 2.6% | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 2.9% | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 3.2% | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 3.4% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 4.2% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 4.4% | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 4.6% | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 5.2% | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 5.4% | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 5.9% | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 6.2% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 6.4% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 6.7% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 7.0% | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 7.3% | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 7.7% | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 8.0% | +4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.0% | 1.5% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 2.6% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3% | 4.4% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.4% | 6.7% | 8.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 153 Equatorial Guinea 8.5% compare
- 154 Côte d'Ivoire 8.2% compare
- 155 Comoros 8.1% compare
- 157 Guinea-Bissau 7.8% compare
- 158 Chad 7.7% compare
- 159 Philippines 7.5% compare
More health data for Japan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.73 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2774 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,294 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 178 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 5.71 % 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 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 5.61 % 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 0.0322 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity in men vs. women in Japan?
- Obesity in men vs. women in Japan was 8.0% 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 8.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity in men vs. women recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1980.
- How does Japan rank for obesity in men vs. women?
- Japan ranks 156th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity in men vs. women rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.