Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 20.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Bulgaria, 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 Bulgaria is 20.3%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Bulgaria peaked at 20.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10.7%, in 1980.
Bulgaria ranks 120th of 199 countries on this measure, 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 Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 10.7% | — |
| 1981 | 10.8% | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 10.9% | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 11.0% | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 11.1% | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 11.3% | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 11.4% | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 11.5% | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 11.6% | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 11.8% | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 11.9% | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 12.0% | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 12.2% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 12.3% | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 12.5% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 12.7% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 12.9% | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 13.2% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 13.4% | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 13.7% | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 14.0% | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 14.4% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 14.7% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 15.0% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 15.4% | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 15.7% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 16.0% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 16.4% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 16.7% | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 17.1% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 17.4% | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 17.7% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 18.0% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 18.2% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 18.5% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 18.7% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 18.9% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 19.1% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 19.3% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 19.4% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 19.6% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 19.8% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 19.9% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 20.1% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 20.3% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.2% | 10.7% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.7% | 11.9% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.5% | 14.0% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.5% | 17.4% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.9% | 19.6% | 20.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More health data for Bulgaria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.5 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.615 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,422 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 39 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -0.6844 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.07 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -0.6014 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.074 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Bulgaria?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Bulgaria was 20.3% 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 Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 20.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.7% in 1980.
- How does Bulgaria rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Bulgaria ranks 120th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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.