Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 2.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ethiopia, 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 Ethiopia is 2.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 6.4% on the previous year and up 78.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ethiopia peaked at 2.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1980.
That places Ethiopia 198th 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.3% | — |
| 1981 | 0.3% | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 0.3% | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 0.3% | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 0.3% | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 0.3% | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 0.4% | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 0.4% | +4.4% |
| 1991 | 0.4% | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 0.4% | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 0.5% | +5.0% |
| 1994 | 0.5% | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | +5.9% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | +6.8% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | +6.9% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | +7.0% |
| 2004 | 0.9% | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 1.0% | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 1.0% | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 1.2% | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | +5.9% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | +5.9% |
| 2013 | 1.5% | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 1.6% | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 2.1% | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 2.3% | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 2.4% | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 2.9% | +6.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.3% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 195 Madagascar 4.5% compare
- 196 Eritrea 4.3% compare
- 197 East Timor 3.6% compare
- 199 Vietnam 2.4% compare
More health data for Ethiopia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9494 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 744.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 19,997 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 1.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1902 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 1.86 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1976 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ethiopia?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ethiopia was 2.9% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1980.
- How does Ethiopia rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Ethiopia ranks 198th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 78.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.