Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Malta
Malta: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 30.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Malta, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malta recorded 30.6% for prevalence rate of obesity in adults in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Malta peaked at 30.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 21.8%, in 1980.
Malta ranks 62nd of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Malta, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 21.8% | — |
| 1981 | 21.9% | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 21.9% | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 22.0% | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 22.1% | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 22.2% | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 22.2% | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 22.3% | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 22.4% | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 22.6% | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 22.7% | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 22.9% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 23.1% | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 23.3% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 23.6% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 24.0% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 24.3% | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 24.8% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 25.2% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 25.7% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 26.2% | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 26.6% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 27.1% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 27.6% | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 28.1% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 28.5% | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 29.4% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 29.7% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 30.0% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 30.2% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 30.4% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 30.5% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 30.6% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 30.7% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 30.7% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 30.8% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 30.8% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 30.8% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 30.8% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 30.8% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 30.7% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 30.7% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 30.7% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 30.6% | -0.1% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 30.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 27.7%, 1.1× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Malta's 30.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 30.7%, 100% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.1% | 21.8% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.0% | 22.7% | 25.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.2% | 26.2% | 30.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.6% | 30.2% | 30.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.7% | 30.6% | 30.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More health data for Malta
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate 0 % 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 4 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.1693 % 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 0.0194 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1495 % 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 0.0208 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Malta?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Malta was 30.6% 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 Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 30.8% in 2019.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.8% in 1980.
- How does Malta rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Malta ranks 62nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malta 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.