Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Barbados
Barbados: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 39.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Barbados, 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 Barbados is 39.4%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and up 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Barbados peaked at 39.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 11.2%, in 1980.
That places Barbados 25th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Barbados, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 11.2% | — |
| 1981 | 11.5% | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 11.9% | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 12.3% | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 12.8% | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 13.2% | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 13.7% | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 14.1% | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 14.6% | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 15.1% | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 15.7% | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 16.2% | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 16.7% | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 17.3% | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 17.9% | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 18.5% | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 19.1% | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 19.8% | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 20.5% | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 21.2% | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 22.0% | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 22.7% | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 23.5% | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 24.2% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 25.0% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 25.7% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 26.5% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 27.2% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 28.0% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 28.7% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 29.4% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 30.2% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 30.9% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 31.6% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 32.3% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 33.0% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 33.7% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 34.4% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 35.1% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 35.8% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 36.6% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 37.3% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 38.0% | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 38.7% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 39.4% | +1.9% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 39.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 27.7%, 1.4× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 39.4% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 32.6%, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13.1% | 11.2% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.3% | 15.7% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.3% | 22.0% | 28.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.7% | 29.4% | 35.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.0% | 36.6% | 39.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
More health data for Barbados
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2208 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5046 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0272 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5262 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0281 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Barbados?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Barbados was 39.4% 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 Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 39.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.2% in 1980.
- How does Barbados rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Barbados ranks 25th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Barbados 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.