Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Denmark
Denmark: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 14.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Denmark, 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 Denmark is 14.3%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Denmark peaked at 14.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.0%, in 1980.
That places Denmark 148th 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 Denmark, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 6.0% | — |
| 1981 | 6.2% | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 6.4% | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 6.6% | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 6.8% | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 7.0% | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 7.2% | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 7.4% | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 7.6% | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 7.8% | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 8.0% | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 8.2% | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 8.5% | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 8.7% | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 9.0% | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 9.2% | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 9.5% | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 9.7% | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 10.0% | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 10.3% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 10.6% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 10.8% | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 11.1% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 11.4% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 11.6% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 11.8% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 12.0% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 12.2% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 12.4% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 12.5% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 12.6% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 12.6% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 12.7% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 12.8% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 12.9% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 13.0% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 13.1% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 13.2% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 13.3% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 13.5% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 13.8% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 14.0% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 14.1% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 14.3% | +1.3% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 14.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 27.7%, 52% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 14.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 21.8%, 66% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.9% | 6.0% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.1% | 8.0% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.6% | 10.6% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.0% | 12.6% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.0% | 13.6% | 14.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More health data for Denmark
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1019 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 31 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.4524 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.4338 % 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 0.026 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Denmark?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Denmark was 14.3% 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 Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 14.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.0% in 1980.
- How does Denmark rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Denmark ranks 148th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Denmark 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.