Obesity in men vs. women in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Obesity in men vs. women was 36.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Obesity in men vs. women in Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia is 36.5%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity in men vs. women in Saudi Arabia peaked at 36.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10.3%, in 1980.
That places Saudi Arabia 16th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Obesity in men vs. women in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 10.3% | — |
| 1981 | 10.7% | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 11.1% | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 11.6% | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 12.0% | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 12.5% | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 13.0% | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 13.5% | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 14.0% | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 14.5% | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 15.0% | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 15.6% | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 16.1% | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 16.7% | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 17.2% | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 17.8% | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 18.4% | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 19.1% | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 19.8% | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 20.5% | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 21.2% | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 22.0% | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 22.8% | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 23.6% | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 24.4% | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 25.3% | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 26.1% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 26.9% | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 27.8% | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 28.6% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 29.4% | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 30.2% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 30.9% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 31.6% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 32.2% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 32.9% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 33.4% | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 34.0% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 34.4% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 34.8% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 35.1% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 35.4% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 35.8% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 36.1% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 36.5% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12.3% | 10.3% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.6% | 15.0% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.9% | 21.2% | 28.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.4% | 29.4% | 34.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.8% | 35.1% | 36.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 483.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 7.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0087 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 6.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0142 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity in men vs. women in Saudi Arabia?
- Obesity in men vs. women in Saudi Arabia was 36.5% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 36.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity in men vs. women recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.3% in 1980.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for obesity in men vs. women?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 16th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity in men vs. women rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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
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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.