Obesity in men vs. women in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Obesity in men vs. women was 10.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Obesity in men vs. women in Republic of Korea, 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 Republic of Korea is 10.4%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 7.9% on the previous year and up 118.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity in men vs. women in Republic of Korea peaked at 10.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1980.
Republic of Korea ranks 141st of 199 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 in men vs. women in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.5% | — |
| 1981 | 0.5% | +5.4% |
| 1982 | 0.5% | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 0.6% | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 0.6% | +6.0% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | +6.1% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | +6.3% |
| 1988 | 0.8% | +6.4% |
| 1989 | 0.8% | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 0.9% | +6.5% |
| 1991 | 0.9% | +6.5% |
| 1992 | 1.0% | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 1.1% | +6.5% |
| 1994 | 1.1% | +6.5% |
| 1995 | 1.2% | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 1.5% | +7.2% |
| 1999 | 1.6% | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | +7.8% |
| 2001 | 1.9% | +8.0% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | +8.0% |
| 2003 | 2.2% | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 2.4% | +7.9% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 2.7% | +7.7% |
| 2007 | 2.9% | +7.6% |
| 2008 | 3.2% | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 3.4% | +7.2% |
| 2010 | 3.6% | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 4.1% | +7.0% |
| 2013 | 4.4% | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 4.8% | +7.5% |
| 2015 | 5.1% | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 5.6% | +8.1% |
| 2017 | 6.0% | +8.2% |
| 2018 | 6.5% | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 7.1% | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 7.6% | +8.3% |
| 2021 | 8.3% | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 8.9% | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 9.7% | +8.0% |
| 2024 | 10.4% | +7.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.2% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 1.7% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.1% | 3.6% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.0% | 7.6% | 10.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More health data for Republic of Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 4.27 % 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 0.0191 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 5.24 % 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 0.0155 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity in men vs. women in Republic of Korea?
- Obesity in men vs. women in Republic of Korea was 10.4% 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 Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 10.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity in men vs. women recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1980.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for obesity in men vs. women?
- Republic of Korea ranks 141st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity in men vs. women rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 118.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.