Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Namibia
Namibia: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 18.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Namibia, 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 Namibia is 18.3%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 23.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Namibia peaked at 18.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 1980.
That places Namibia 127th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Namibia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.7% | — |
| 1981 | 3.9% | +5.1% |
| 1982 | 4.1% | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 4.3% | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 4.5% | +5.2% |
| 1985 | 4.7% | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 5.0% | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 5.2% | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 5.5% | +5.2% |
| 1989 | 5.8% | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 6.0% | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 6.3% | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 6.7% | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 7.0% | +5.0% |
| 1994 | 7.4% | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 7.7% | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 8.1% | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 8.5% | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 8.9% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 9.3% | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 9.8% | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 10.2% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 10.6% | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 11.1% | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 11.5% | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 11.9% | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 12.3% | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 12.6% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 13.3% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 13.6% | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 13.9% | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 14.2% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 14.5% | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 14.7% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 15.1% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 15.4% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 15.7% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 16.0% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 16.4% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 16.7% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 17.1% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 17.5% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 17.9% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 18.3% | +2.2% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 18.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.0%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 18.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.7%, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.6% | 3.7% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.6% | 6.0% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.6% | 9.8% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.9% | 13.6% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.5% | 16.7% | 18.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 124 Slovenia 19.8% compare
- 125 Equatorial Guinea 19.2% compare
- 126 Luxembourg 19.0% compare
- 128 Portugal 18.1% compare
- 129 Sao Tome and Principe 17.9% compare
- 130 Maldives 17.9% compare
More health data for Namibia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6445 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 561 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (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 0.0644 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.56 % 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 0.0646 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Namibia?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Namibia was 18.3% 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 1980.
- How does Namibia rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Namibia ranks 127th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia 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.