Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in El Salvador
El Salvador: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 32.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in El Salvador, 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 El Salvador is 32.2%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in El Salvador peaked at 32.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 7.4%, in 1980.
That places El Salvador 50th 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 El Salvador, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 7.4% | — |
| 1981 | 7.7% | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 8.1% | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 8.5% | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 8.9% | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 9.4% | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 9.8% | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 10.3% | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 10.8% | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 11.3% | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 11.8% | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 12.4% | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 12.9% | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 13.5% | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 14.1% | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 14.7% | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 15.3% | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 15.9% | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 16.5% | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 17.2% | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 17.8% | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 18.5% | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 19.1% | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 19.7% | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 20.4% | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 21.0% | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 21.6% | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 22.2% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 22.8% | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 23.5% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 24.1% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 24.7% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 25.3% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 25.9% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 26.5% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 27.1% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 27.7% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 28.2% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 28.8% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 29.4% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 29.9% | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 30.5% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 31.0% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 31.6% | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 32.2% | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.2% | 7.4% | 11.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.4% | 11.8% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.7% | 17.8% | 23.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.8% | 24.1% | 29.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.0% | 29.9% | 32.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
- 47 Costa Rica 32.7% compare
- 48 Dominica 32.5% compare
- 49 Romania 32.4% compare
- 51 South Africa 31.8% compare
- 52 Honduras 31.8% compare
- 53 United Arab Emirates 31.6% compare
More health data for El Salvador
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.89 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4574 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,537 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 104 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 3.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0098 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 2.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0063 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in El Salvador?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in El Salvador was 32.2% 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 32.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.4% in 1980.
- How does El Salvador rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- El Salvador ranks 50th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.