Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Japan
Japan: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 5.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Japan, 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 Japan is 5.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.9% on the previous year and up 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Japan peaked at 5.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 1980.
That places Japan 190th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.6% | — |
| 1981 | 1.6% | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 1.6% | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 1.6% | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 1.7% | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 1.7% | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 1.7% | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 1.8% | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 1.8% | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 1.8% | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 1.9% | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 2.0% | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 2.1% | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 2.2% | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 2.3% | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 2.4% | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 2.5% | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 2.6% | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 2.8% | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 3.0% | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 3.1% | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 3.5% | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 3.7% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 3.8% | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 3.9% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 4.3% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 4.4% | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 4.9% | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 5.1% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 5.3% | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 5.5% | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 5.7% | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 5.9% | +3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.2% | 3.7% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 5.1% | 5.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More health data for Japan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.73 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2774 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,294 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 178 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -2.14 % 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 0.0547 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -2.28 % 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 0.0576 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Japan?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Japan was 5.9% 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 5.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 1980.
- How does Japan rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Japan ranks 190th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.