Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Italy

Italy: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 14.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
14.0%
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
149th
of 199 countries
All-time high
15.7%
in 2011
All-time low
12.3%
in 1991
Years of data
45
1980–2024

Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Italy, 1980–2024

0510151980200220241980: 13.3 %1981: 13.2 %1982: 13.1 %1983: 13 %1984: 12.9 %1985: 12.8 %1986: 12.7 %1987: 12.6 %1988: 12.5 %1989: 12.4 %1990: 12.3 %1991: 12.3 %1992: 12.3 %1993: 12.4 %1994: 12.5 %1995: 12.6 %1996: 12.7 %1997: 12.9 %1998: 13.1 %1999: 13.4 %2000: 13.6 %2001: 13.9 %2002: 14.1 %2003: 14.4 %2004: 14.6 %2005: 14.9 %2006: 15.1 %2007: 15.3 %2008: 15.5 %2009: 15.6 %2010: 15.7 %2011: 15.7 %2012: 15.7 %2013: 15.6 %2014: 15.6 %2015: 15.5 %2016: 15.3 %2017: 15.2 %2018: 15.1 %2019: 14.9 %2020: 14.7 %2021: 14.5 %2022: 14.4 %2023: 14.2 %2024: 14 %

Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2024, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Italy stood at 14.0%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 10.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Italy peaked at 15.7% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 1991.

Italy ranks 149th of 199 countries on this measure, 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 Italy, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Italy, 1980 to 2024.
Year % Change
1980 13.3%
1981 13.2% -0.9%
1982 13.1% -0.8%
1983 13.0% -0.8%
1984 12.9% -0.8%
1985 12.8% -0.9%
1986 12.7% -0.9%
1987 12.6% -0.8%
1988 12.5% -0.7%
1989 12.4% -0.6%
1990 12.3% -0.4%
1991 12.3% -0.2%
1992 12.3% +0.1%
1993 12.4% +0.3%
1994 12.5% +0.7%
1995 12.6% +0.9%
1996 12.7% +1.2%
1997 12.9% +1.5%
1998 13.1% +1.6%
1999 13.4% +1.8%
2000 13.6% +1.9%
2001 13.9% +1.9%
2002 14.1% +1.9%
2003 14.4% +1.8%
2004 14.6% +1.8%
2005 14.9% +1.7%
2006 15.1% +1.5%
2007 15.3% +1.4%
2008 15.5% +1.1%
2009 15.6% +0.8%
2010 15.7% +0.5%
2011 15.7% +0.1%
2012 15.7% -0.1%
2013 15.6% -0.3%
2014 15.6% -0.5%
2015 15.5% -0.6%
2016 15.3% -0.7%
2017 15.2% -0.8%
2018 15.1% -1.0%
2019 14.9% -1.1%
2020 14.7% -1.2%
2021 14.5% -1.2%
2022 14.4% -1.3%
2023 14.2% -1.3%
2024 14.0% -1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 12.8% 12.4% 13.3% 10
1990s 12.7% 12.3% 13.4% 10
2000s 14.7% 13.6% 15.6% 10
2010s 15.4% 14.9% 15.7% 10
2020s 14.4% 14.0% 14.7% 5

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 146 Netherlands 14.7% compare
  2. 147 Ghana 14.5% compare
  3. 148 Denmark 14.3% compare
  4. 150 Nigeria 13.7% compare
  5. 151 Togo 13.4% compare
  6. 152 Yemen 13.3% compare

See the full ranking of 199 places →

More health data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Italy?
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Italy was 14.0% 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 Italy?
The highest recorded value was 15.7% in 2011.
What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 1991.
How does Italy rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
Italy ranks 149th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Italy 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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Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Italy. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/obesity-prevalence-adults-who-gho/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults
Unit
%
Source
World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
199 places, 8,955 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed

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.