Obesity in men vs. women in Malaysia
Malaysia: Obesity in men vs. women was 18.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Obesity in men vs. women in Malaysia, 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 Malaysia stood at 18.3%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity in men vs. women in Malaysia peaked at 18.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1980.
Malaysia ranks 115th 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.5% | — |
| 1981 | 1.6% | +7.0% |
| 1982 | 1.8% | +7.2% |
| 1983 | 1.9% | +7.4% |
| 1984 | 2.0% | +7.4% |
| 1985 | 2.2% | +7.5% |
| 1986 | 2.4% | +7.6% |
| 1987 | 2.5% | +7.6% |
| 1988 | 2.7% | +7.7% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | +7.7% |
| 1990 | 3.2% | +7.7% |
| 1991 | 3.4% | +7.7% |
| 1992 | 3.7% | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 4.0% | +7.7% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 4.6% | +7.7% |
| 1996 | 5.0% | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 5.3% | +7.8% |
| 1998 | 5.8% | +7.8% |
| 1999 | 6.2% | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 6.7% | +7.6% |
| 2001 | 7.2% | +7.4% |
| 2002 | 7.7% | +7.2% |
| 2003 | 8.2% | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 8.8% | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 9.3% | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 9.8% | +5.9% |
| 2007 | 10.4% | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 10.9% | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 11.4% | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 11.9% | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 12.4% | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 12.8% | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 13.3% | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 13.7% | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 14.1% | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 14.6% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 15.0% | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 15.5% | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 15.9% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 16.3% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 16.8% | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 17.3% | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 17.8% | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 18.3% | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.2% | 1.5% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.5% | 3.2% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 6.7% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.9% | 11.9% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.3% | 16.3% | 18.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 652 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 3.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0153 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0118 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity in men vs. women in Malaysia?
- Obesity in men vs. women in Malaysia was 18.3% 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity in men vs. women recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1980.
- How does Malaysia rank for obesity in men vs. women?
- Malaysia ranks 115th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity in men vs. women rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.