Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ireland
Ireland: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 27.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ireland, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 27.9% for prevalence rate of obesity in adults in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ireland peaked at 27.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 1980.
That places Ireland 75th 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 8.9% | — |
| 1981 | 9.3% | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 9.7% | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 10.1% | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 10.5% | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 10.9% | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 11.3% | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 11.8% | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 12.3% | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 12.8% | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 13.3% | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 13.8% | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 14.3% | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 14.9% | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 15.5% | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 16.1% | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 16.7% | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 17.3% | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 17.9% | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 18.6% | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 19.2% | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 19.8% | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 20.4% | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 21.0% | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 21.5% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 22.1% | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 22.6% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 23.1% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 23.5% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 23.9% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 24.3% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 24.6% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 24.9% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 25.1% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 25.4% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 25.7% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 26.0% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 26.2% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 26.5% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 26.7% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 26.9% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 27.2% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 27.4% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 27.6% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 27.9% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.8% | 8.9% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.8% | 13.3% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.7% | 19.2% | 23.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.5% | 24.3% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.4% | 26.9% | 27.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 72 Greenland 28.1% compare
- 73 Papua New Guinea 28.0% compare
- 74 Guatemala 28.0% compare
- 76 Azerbaijan 27.6% compare
- 77 Greece 27.4% compare
- 78 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 27.4% compare
More health data for Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.89 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,122 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 20 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -0.8894 % 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 0.0884 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -0.8627 % 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 0.0926 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ireland?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Ireland was 27.9% 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 27.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 1980.
- How does Ireland rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Ireland ranks 75th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland 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.