Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 20.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Afghanistan, 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 prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Afghanistan is 20.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.8% on the previous year and up 74.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Afghanistan peaked at 20.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1980.
Afghanistan ranks 119th 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.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.0% | — |
| 1981 | 1.0% | +7.1% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | +7.3% |
| 1983 | 1.2% | +7.4% |
| 1984 | 1.3% | +7.6% |
| 1985 | 1.4% | +7.7% |
| 1986 | 1.5% | +7.7% |
| 1987 | 1.6% | +7.8% |
| 1988 | 1.7% | +7.8% |
| 1989 | 1.9% | +7.9% |
| 1990 | 2.0% | +7.9% |
| 1991 | 2.2% | +7.9% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | +7.9% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | +7.9% |
| 1994 | 2.8% | +8.0% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | +8.0% |
| 1996 | 3.2% | +8.1% |
| 1997 | 3.5% | +8.1% |
| 1998 | 3.8% | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 4.1% | +8.1% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | +8.1% |
| 2001 | 4.8% | +8.0% |
| 2002 | 5.1% | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 6.0% | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 6.4% | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 6.9% | +7.4% |
| 2007 | 7.4% | +7.3% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | +7.2% |
| 2009 | 8.5% | +7.1% |
| 2010 | 9.1% | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 9.7% | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 10.3% | +6.8% |
| 2013 | 11.0% | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 11.8% | +6.6% |
| 2015 | 12.5% | +6.6% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | +6.5% |
| 2017 | 14.2% | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 15.1% | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 15.9% | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 16.8% | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 17.8% | +5.4% |
| 2022 | 18.7% | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 19.6% | +5.0% |
| 2024 | 20.6% | +4.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.4% | 1.0% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.9% | 2.0% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.3% | 4.4% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.3% | 9.1% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.7% | 16.8% | 20.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 2.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.2081 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.2175 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Afghanistan?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Afghanistan was 20.6% in 2024, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 20.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1980.
- How does Afghanistan rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Afghanistan ranks 119th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 74.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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 Prevalence rate of obesity in adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated prevalence of obesity in adults, based on general population surveys and statistical modeling. Obesity is a risk factor for chronic complications, including cardiovascular disease, and premature death.