Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in New Zealand
New Zealand: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 34.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand is 34.0%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in New Zealand peaked at 34.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 7.6%, in 1980.
That places New Zealand 43rd 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 7.6% | — |
| 1981 | 8.0% | +6.0% |
| 1982 | 8.5% | +6.0% |
| 1983 | 9.0% | +6.0% |
| 1984 | 9.6% | +5.9% |
| 1985 | 10.1% | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 10.7% | +5.7% |
| 1987 | 11.3% | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 12.0% | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 12.6% | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 13.3% | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 14.0% | +5.4% |
| 1992 | 14.8% | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 15.5% | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 16.3% | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 17.1% | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 18.0% | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 18.8% | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 19.7% | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 20.5% | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 21.4% | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 22.2% | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 23.0% | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 23.8% | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 24.6% | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 25.3% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 26.0% | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 26.7% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 27.3% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 27.9% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 28.4% | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 28.9% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 29.4% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 29.8% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 30.2% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 30.7% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 31.1% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 31.5% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 31.8% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 32.2% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 32.6% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 32.9% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 33.3% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 33.7% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 34.0% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.9% | 7.6% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.8% | 13.3% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.8% | 21.4% | 27.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.4% | 28.4% | 32.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.3% | 32.6% | 34.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 40 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 34.6% compare
- 41 Antigua and Barbuda 34.6% compare
- 42 Bermuda 34.1% compare
- 44 Seychelles 33.9% compare
- 45 Libya 33.7% compare
- 46 Syrian Arab Republic 33.0% compare
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,116 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 33 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0305 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 0.6838 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0314 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in New Zealand?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in New Zealand was 34.0% 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 34.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.6% in 1980.
- How does New Zealand rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- New Zealand ranks 43rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.