Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Libya
Libya: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 33.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Libya, 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 Libya stood at 33.7%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Libya peaked at 33.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 13.7%, in 1980.
Libya ranks 45th 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 Libya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 13.7% | — |
| 1981 | 14.1% | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 14.3% | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 14.5% | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 14.8% | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 15.3% | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 15.7% | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 16.2% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 16.7% | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 17.2% | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 17.7% | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 18.3% | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 18.8% | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 19.4% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 20.0% | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 20.6% | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 21.2% | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 21.8% | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 22.4% | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 23.1% | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 23.8% | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 24.6% | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 25.4% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 26.1% | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 26.9% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 27.6% | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 28.3% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 28.8% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 29.3% | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 29.8% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 30.3% | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 30.7% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 31.1% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 31.5% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 31.9% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 32.2% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 32.5% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 32.8% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 33.0% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 33.1% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 33.3% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 33.4% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 33.5% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 33.6% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 33.7% | +0.3% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 33.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 27.2%, 1.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 33.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 30.7%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.3% | 13.7% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.3% | 17.7% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.1% | 23.8% | 29.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.9% | 30.3% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.5% | 33.3% | 33.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 42 Bermuda 34.1% compare
- 43 New Zealand 34.0% compare
- 44 Seychelles 33.9% compare
- 46 Syria 33.0% compare
- 47 Costa Rica 32.7% compare
- 48 Dominica 32.5% compare
More health data for Libya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 133 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.83 % 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 0.0404 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.77 % 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 0.0427 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Libya?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Libya was 33.7% 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 Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 33.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.7% in 1980.
- How does Libya rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Libya ranks 45th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya 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.