Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ghana
Ghana: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 14.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ghana, 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 Ghana is 14.5%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ghana peaked at 14.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 1980.
Ghana ranks 147th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.6% | — |
| 1981 | 1.7% | +6.7% |
| 1982 | 1.8% | +6.7% |
| 1983 | 1.9% | +6.8% |
| 1984 | 2.0% | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 2.2% | +6.9% |
| 1986 | 2.3% | +6.9% |
| 1987 | 2.5% | +6.8% |
| 1988 | 2.7% | +6.8% |
| 1989 | 2.8% | +6.8% |
| 1990 | 3.0% | +6.8% |
| 1991 | 3.2% | +6.8% |
| 1992 | 3.5% | +6.8% |
| 1993 | 3.7% | +6.8% |
| 1994 | 4.0% | +6.9% |
| 1995 | 4.2% | +7.1% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | +7.1% |
| 1997 | 4.9% | +7.2% |
| 1998 | 5.2% | +7.2% |
| 1999 | 5.6% | +7.1% |
| 2000 | 6.0% | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 6.4% | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 6.8% | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 7.2% | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 7.6% | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 8.0% | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 8.3% | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 8.7% | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 9.0% | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 9.3% | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 9.6% | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 9.8% | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 10.1% | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 10.4% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 10.6% | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 10.9% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 11.3% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 11.6% | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 12.0% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 12.4% | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 12.8% | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 13.2% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 13.7% | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 14.1% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 14.5% | +3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.1% | 1.6% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.2% | 3.0% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.7% | 6.0% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.9% | 9.6% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.7% | 12.8% | 14.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.736 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1749 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.7544 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1794 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ghana?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ghana was 14.5% 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 14.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 1980.
- How does Ghana rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Ghana ranks 147th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.