Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Iraq
Iraq: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 39.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Iraq, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 39.7% for prevalence rate of obesity in adults in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Iraq peaked at 39.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 14.6%, in 1980.
Iraq ranks 24th of 199 countries on this measure, 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 14.6% | — |
| 1981 | 15.0% | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 15.5% | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 16.0% | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 16.5% | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 17.0% | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 17.5% | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 18.0% | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 18.6% | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 19.2% | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 19.8% | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 20.4% | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 21.0% | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 21.6% | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 22.2% | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 22.8% | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 23.5% | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 24.2% | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 24.9% | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 25.6% | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 26.3% | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 27.0% | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 27.7% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 28.5% | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 29.2% | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 29.9% | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 30.6% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 31.2% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 31.9% | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 32.6% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 33.2% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 33.8% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 34.5% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 35.1% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 35.6% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 36.2% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 36.7% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 37.2% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 37.6% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 38.0% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 38.3% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 38.7% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 39.0% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 39.3% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 39.7% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16.8% | 14.6% | 19.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.6% | 19.8% | 25.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.5% | 26.3% | 32.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.8% | 33.2% | 38.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.0% | 38.3% | 39.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More health data for Iraq
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.4 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 898.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 5,830 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.5794 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1756 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.577 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1846 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Iraq?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Iraq was 39.7% 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 39.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.6% in 1980.
- How does Iraq rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Iraq ranks 24th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq 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.