Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 12.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, 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 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of is 12.0%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 62.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of peaked at 12.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1980.
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of ranks 161st of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.3% | — |
| 1981 | 1.4% | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 1.4% | +4.6% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 1.6% | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 1.6% | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 1.7% | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 1.8% | +5.1% |
| 1988 | 1.9% | +5.1% |
| 1989 | 2.0% | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 2.2% | +5.2% |
| 1992 | 2.3% | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 2.5% | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 2.6% | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 2.7% | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 2.9% | +5.3% |
| 1997 | 3.0% | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 3.2% | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 3.3% | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 3.7% | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 4.1% | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 4.4% | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 4.6% | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 5.1% | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 5.4% | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 5.7% | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 6.0% | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 6.3% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 6.6% | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 7.0% | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 7.3% | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 7.7% | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 8.1% | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 8.6% | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 9.0% | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 9.4% | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 9.9% | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 10.4% | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 10.9% | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 11.4% | +4.8% |
| 2024 | 12.0% | +4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.6% | 1.3% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | 2.1% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.5% | 3.5% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.6% | 6.0% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.9% | 9.9% | 12.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
More health data for Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 767 deaths (2100)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,462 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 16, male, interpolated 166,971 (2025)
- Age population, age 18, female, interpolated 159,845 (2025)
- Age population, age 17, male, interpolated 168,398 (2025)
- Age population, age 17, female, interpolated 160,530 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of was 12.0% 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 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1980.
- How does Korea, Democratic People's Republic of rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Korea, Democratic People's Republic of ranks 161st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Korea, Democratic People's Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 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.