Obesity in men vs. women in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Obesity in men vs. women was 27.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Obesity in men vs. women in United Arab Emirates, 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 United Arab Emirates stood at 27.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity in men vs. women in United Arab Emirates peaked at 28.2% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 1980.
United Arab Emirates ranks 49th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Obesity in men vs. women in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 8.9% | — |
| 1981 | 9.4% | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 9.8% | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 10.3% | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 10.9% | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 11.4% | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 12.0% | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 12.6% | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 13.2% | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 13.8% | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 14.5% | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 15.1% | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 15.8% | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 16.5% | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 17.2% | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 17.9% | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 18.6% | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 19.3% | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 20.0% | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 20.8% | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 21.5% | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 22.2% | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 22.8% | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 23.4% | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 24.0% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 24.6% | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 25.1% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 25.6% | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 26.1% | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 26.5% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 26.9% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 27.2% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 27.4% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 27.7% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 27.9% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 28.0% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 28.2% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 28.2% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 28.2% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 28.1% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 28.1% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 28.0% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 27.9% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 27.9% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 27.8% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.2% | 8.9% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.6% | 14.5% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.2% | 21.5% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.8% | 26.9% | 28.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.9% | 27.8% | 28.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 46 Palestine, State of 28.3% compare
- 47 Uzbekistan 28.3% compare
- 48 Barbados 28.0% compare
- 50 Greece 27.7% compare
- 51 Canada 27.5% compare
- 52 North Macedonia 27.5% compare
More health data for United Arab Emirates
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.3472 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 308.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 287 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 15-19, male, annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0238 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate 0.2139 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0314 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity in men vs. women in United Arab Emirates?
- Obesity in men vs. women in United Arab Emirates was 27.8% 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 28.2% in 2017.
- What is the lowest obesity in men vs. women recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 1980.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for obesity in men vs. women?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 49th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity in men vs. women rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates 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.