Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Bhutan
Bhutan: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 13.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Bhutan, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Bhutan stood at 13.1%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 65.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Bhutan peaked at 13.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 1980.
That places Bhutan 154th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.8% | — |
| 1981 | 0.9% | +7.0% |
| 1982 | 0.9% | +7.1% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | +7.3% |
| 1984 | 1.1% | +7.3% |
| 1985 | 1.1% | +7.4% |
| 1986 | 1.2% | +7.5% |
| 1987 | 1.3% | +7.5% |
| 1988 | 1.4% | +7.5% |
| 1989 | 1.5% | +7.5% |
| 1990 | 1.6% | +7.5% |
| 1991 | 1.8% | +7.6% |
| 1992 | 1.9% | +7.5% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | +7.5% |
| 1994 | 2.2% | +7.5% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | +7.5% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | +7.5% |
| 1997 | 2.7% | +7.6% |
| 1998 | 2.9% | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 3.1% | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 3.4% | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 3.6% | +7.1% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 4.1% | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 4.4% | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 4.7% | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 5.0% | +6.4% |
| 2007 | 5.3% | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 5.6% | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 6.3% | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 6.7% | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 7.0% | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 7.5% | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 7.9% | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 8.3% | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 9.3% | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 9.8% | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 10.3% | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 10.8% | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 11.4% | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 11.9% | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 12.5% | +4.8% |
| 2024 | 13.1% | +4.7% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 13.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.0%, 81% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 13.1% is above the median for South Asia, which is 9.6%, 1.4× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.3% | 1.6% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 3.4% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.2% | 6.3% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.9% | 10.8% | 13.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More health data for Bhutan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -10 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0915 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 9 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.2986 % 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 0.0299 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.3987 % 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 0.0313 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Bhutan?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Bhutan was 13.1% 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 Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 13.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 1980.
- How does Bhutan rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Bhutan ranks 154th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan 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.