Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Botswana
Botswana: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 19.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Botswana, 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 Botswana stood at 19.8%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and up 27.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Botswana peaked at 19.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 1980.
That places Botswana 123rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Botswana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.4% | — |
| 1981 | 3.6% | +5.2% |
| 1982 | 3.8% | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 4.0% | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 4.2% | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 4.4% | +5.3% |
| 1986 | 4.7% | +5.4% |
| 1987 | 4.9% | +5.4% |
| 1988 | 5.2% | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 5.5% | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 5.8% | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 6.1% | +5.4% |
| 1992 | 6.4% | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 6.7% | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 7.1% | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 7.5% | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 7.9% | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 8.3% | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 8.7% | +5.1% |
| 1999 | 9.1% | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 9.6% | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 10.0% | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 10.5% | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 11.0% | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 11.4% | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 11.9% | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 12.3% | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 12.8% | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 13.2% | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 13.6% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 14.0% | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 14.4% | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 14.7% | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 15.1% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 15.5% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 15.9% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 16.3% | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 16.7% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 17.1% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 17.5% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 17.9% | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 18.4% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 18.8% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 19.3% | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 19.8% | +2.5% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 19.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 27.2%, 73% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 19.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.7%, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.4% | 3.4% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.4% | 5.8% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.6% | 9.6% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.7% | 14.0% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.8% | 17.9% | 19.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More health data for Botswana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 281 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.6484 % 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 0.0579 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9109 % 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 0.0591 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Botswana?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Botswana was 19.8% 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 Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 19.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 1980.
- How does Botswana rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Botswana ranks 123rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Botswana 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.