Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Kuwait
Kuwait: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 40.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Kuwait, 1980–2024
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 Kuwait stood at 40.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Kuwait peaked at 40.8% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 20.4%, in 1980.
That places Kuwait 22nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 20.4% | — |
| 1981 | 21.0% | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 21.7% | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 22.4% | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 23.1% | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 23.9% | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 24.6% | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 25.4% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 26.1% | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 26.9% | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 27.7% | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 28.5% | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 29.3% | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 30.1% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 30.8% | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 31.5% | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 32.3% | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 33.1% | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 33.9% | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 34.7% | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 35.4% | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 36.2% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 36.9% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 37.5% | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 38.0% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 38.5% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 39.0% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 39.3% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 39.7% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 40.0% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 40.3% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 40.5% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 40.6% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 40.7% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 40.8% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 40.8% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 40.7% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 40.6% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 40.4% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 40.3% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 40.3% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 40.5% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 40.7% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 40.5% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 40.4% | -0.3% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 40.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 27.7%, 1.5× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 40.4% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 30.7%, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 23.6% | 20.4% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.2% | 27.7% | 34.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 38.0% | 35.4% | 40.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.6% | 40.3% | 40.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.5% | 40.3% | 40.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More health data for Kuwait
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9259 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.41 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 107 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.9273 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0264 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6875 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0272 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Kuwait?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Kuwait was 40.4% 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 Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 40.8% in 2014.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.4% in 1980.
- How does Kuwait rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Kuwait ranks 22nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kuwait 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.