Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Eritrea

Eritrea: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 4.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
4.3%
Change on year
up 5.5%
World rank
196th
of 199 countries
All-time high
4.3%
in 2024
All-time low
0.5%
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024

Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Eritrea, 1980–2024

12341980200220241980: 0.546 %1981: 0.561 %1982: 0.578 %1983: 0.596 %1984: 0.617 %1985: 0.639 %1986: 0.662 %1987: 0.688 %1988: 0.715 %1989: 0.745 %1990: 0.777 %1991: 0.811 %1992: 0.847 %1993: 0.885 %1994: 0.926 %1995: 0.969 %1996: 1 %1997: 1.1 %1998: 1.1 %1999: 1.2 %2000: 1.3 %2001: 1.3 %2002: 1.4 %2003: 1.5 %2004: 1.6 %2005: 1.7 %2006: 1.8 %2007: 1.8 %2008: 1.9 %2009: 2 %2010: 2.1 %2011: 2.2 %2012: 2.3 %2013: 2.4 %2014: 2.6 %2015: 2.7 %2016: 2.9 %2017: 3 %2018: 3.2 %2019: 3.3 %2020: 3.5 %2021: 3.7 %2022: 3.9 %2023: 4.1 %2024: 4.3 %

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 Eritrea stood at 4.3%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.

The figure is up 5.5% on the previous year and up 67.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Eritrea peaked at 4.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1980.

That places Eritrea 196th 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 Eritrea, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Eritrea, 1980 to 2024.
Year % Change
1980 0.5% —
1981 0.6% +2.7%
1982 0.6% +3.0%
1983 0.6% +3.2%
1984 0.6% +3.4%
1985 0.6% +3.6%
1986 0.7% +3.7%
1987 0.7% +3.9%
1988 0.7% +4.0%
1989 0.7% +4.2%
1990 0.8% +4.3%
1991 0.8% +4.4%
1992 0.8% +4.5%
1993 0.9% +4.5%
1994 0.9% +4.6%
1995 1.0% +4.6%
1996 1.0% +5.0%
1997 1.1% +5.5%
1998 1.1% +5.7%
1999 1.2% +6.1%
2000 1.3% +6.0%
2001 1.3% +5.7%
2002 1.4% +5.6%
2003 1.5% +5.5%
2004 1.6% +5.3%
2005 1.7% +5.3%
2006 1.8% +5.2%
2007 1.8% +5.0%
2008 1.9% +4.8%
2009 2.0% +4.7%
2010 2.1% +4.8%
2011 2.2% +4.9%
2012 2.3% +5.0%
2013 2.4% +5.1%
2014 2.6% +5.3%
2015 2.7% +5.4%
2016 2.9% +5.3%
2017 3.0% +5.3%
2018 3.2% +5.3%
2019 3.3% +5.2%
2020 3.5% +5.2%
2021 3.7% +5.2%
2022 3.9% +5.3%
2023 4.1% +5.4%
2024 4.3% +5.5%

Eritrea compared with similar countries

  • Eritrea's 4.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 9.5%, 46% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
  • Eritrea's 4.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.7%, 34% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 0.6% 0.5% 0.7% 10
1990s 1.0% 0.8% 1.2% 10
2000s 1.6% 1.3% 2.0% 10
2010s 2.7% 2.1% 3.3% 10
2020s 3.9% 3.5% 4.3% 5

Countries ranked near Eritrea

  1. 193 Burundi 5.2% compare
  2. 194 Cambodia 4.9% compare
  3. 195 Madagascar 4.5% compare
  4. 197 East Timor 3.6% compare
  5. 198 Ethiopia 2.9% compare
  6. 199 Vietnam 2.4% compare

See the full ranking of 199 places →

More health data for Eritrea

All data for Eritrea →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Eritrea?
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Eritrea was 4.3% 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 Eritrea?
The highest recorded value was 4.3% in 2024.
What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Eritrea?
The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1980.
How does Eritrea rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
Eritrea ranks 196th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Eritrea?
Over the last ten years it is up 67.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Eritrea 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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Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Eritrea. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/obesity-prevalence-adults-who-gho/eritrea/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults
Unit
%
Source
World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
199 places, 8,955 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed

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.