Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Iceland
Iceland: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 22.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Iceland, 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 Iceland is 22.2%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Iceland peaked at 22.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 1980.
That places Iceland 105th 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 Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 6.9% | — |
| 1981 | 7.2% | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 7.4% | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 7.7% | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 8.0% | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 8.3% | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 8.6% | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 9.0% | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 9.3% | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 9.7% | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 10.0% | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 10.4% | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 10.8% | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 11.2% | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 11.6% | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 12.0% | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 12.5% | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 13.0% | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 13.4% | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 13.9% | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 14.4% | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 14.9% | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 15.4% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 15.9% | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 16.3% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 16.8% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 17.2% | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 17.6% | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 17.9% | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 18.2% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 18.5% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 18.7% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 19.0% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 19.2% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 19.4% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 19.7% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 19.9% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 20.2% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 20.4% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 20.7% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 21.0% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 21.3% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 21.6% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 21.9% | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 22.2% | +1.5% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 22.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 27.7%, 80% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 22.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 21.8%, 1.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.2% | 6.9% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.9% | 10.0% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.5% | 14.4% | 18.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.6% | 18.5% | 20.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.6% | 21.0% | 22.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 102 Israel 22.2% compare
- 103 Lesotho 22.2% compare
- 104 Turkmenistan 22.2% compare
- 106 Kyrgyzstan 22.0% compare
- 107 Serbia 21.8% compare
- 108 Solomon Islands 21.8% compare
More health data for Iceland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2085)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4982 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 0 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.1533 % 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 0.0283 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1097 % 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 0.0302 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Iceland?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Iceland was 22.2% 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 22.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 1980.
- How does Iceland rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Iceland ranks 105th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland 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.