Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Jamaica
Jamaica: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 35.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Jamaica, 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 Jamaica is 35.2%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 26.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Jamaica peaked at 35.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.6%, in 1980.
Jamaica ranks 34th 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 Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 6.6% | — |
| 1981 | 6.9% | +4.6% |
| 1982 | 7.3% | +4.6% |
| 1983 | 7.6% | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 8.0% | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 8.3% | +4.7% |
| 1986 | 8.7% | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 9.1% | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 9.6% | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 10.0% | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 10.5% | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 11.0% | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 11.5% | +4.8% |
| 1993 | 12.1% | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 12.7% | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 13.3% | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 14.0% | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 14.7% | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 15.4% | +5.1% |
| 1999 | 16.2% | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 17.0% | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 17.8% | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 18.6% | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 19.4% | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 20.2% | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 21.0% | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 21.8% | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 22.6% | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 23.4% | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 24.2% | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 24.9% | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 25.7% | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 26.4% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 27.2% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 27.9% | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 28.6% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 29.3% | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 30.1% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 30.8% | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 31.5% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 32.2% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 33.0% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 33.7% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 34.4% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 35.2% | +2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.2% | 6.6% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.1% | 10.5% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.6% | 17.0% | 24.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.2% | 24.9% | 31.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.7% | 32.2% | 35.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More health data for Jamaica
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3325 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,308 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 31 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -2.32 % 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 0.0898 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -2.29 % 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 0.0931 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Jamaica?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Jamaica was 35.2% 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 35.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.6% in 1980.
- How does Jamaica rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Jamaica ranks 34th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.