Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Maldives
Maldives: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 17.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Maldives, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Maldives recorded 17.9% for prevalence rate of obesity in adults in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.0% on the previous year and up 48.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Maldives peaked at 17.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1980.
Maldives ranks 130th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Maldives, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.2% | — |
| 1981 | 2.3% | +5.3% |
| 1982 | 2.4% | +5.4% |
| 1983 | 2.5% | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 2.7% | +5.5% |
| 1985 | 2.8% | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 3.0% | +5.7% |
| 1987 | 3.2% | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 3.3% | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 3.5% | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 3.7% | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 4.0% | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 4.2% | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 4.4% | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 4.6% | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 4.9% | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 5.2% | +5.3% |
| 1997 | 5.4% | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 5.7% | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 6.0% | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | +5.3% |
| 2001 | 6.7% | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 7.0% | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 7.4% | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 8.2% | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 8.6% | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 9.0% | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 9.4% | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 9.8% | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 10.2% | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 10.7% | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 11.1% | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 11.6% | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 12.0% | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 12.5% | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 13.1% | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 13.6% | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 14.2% | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 14.7% | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 15.3% | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 15.9% | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 16.5% | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 17.2% | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 17.9% | +4.0% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's 17.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 27.2%, 66% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 17.9% is above the median for South Asia, which is 9.6%, 1.9× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.8% | 2.2% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.8% | 3.7% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.0% | 6.3% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 10.2% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.6% | 15.3% | 17.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
More health data for Maldives
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -2.69 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 5 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.2 % 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 -3.8 % 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 0.0279 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Maldives?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Maldives was 17.9% 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 Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 17.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1980.
- How does Maldives rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Maldives ranks 130th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Maldives 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.