Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 34.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Nicaragua, 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 Nicaragua is 34.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Nicaragua peaked at 34.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8.0%, in 1980.
That places Nicaragua 37th 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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 8.0% | — |
| 1981 | 8.4% | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 8.8% | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 9.2% | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 9.7% | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 10.2% | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 10.7% | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 11.2% | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 11.8% | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 12.3% | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 12.9% | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 13.5% | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 14.1% | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 14.8% | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 15.4% | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 16.1% | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 16.8% | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 17.5% | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 18.2% | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 18.9% | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 19.6% | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 20.3% | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 21.0% | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 21.7% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 22.3% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 23.0% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 23.6% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 24.3% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 25.0% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 25.6% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 26.3% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 26.9% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 27.6% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 28.3% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 28.9% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 29.5% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 30.1% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 30.7% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 31.3% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 31.9% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 32.5% | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 33.1% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 33.7% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 34.3% | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 34.9% | +1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.0% | 8.0% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.8% | 12.9% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.6% | 19.6% | 25.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.2% | 26.3% | 31.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.7% | 32.5% | 34.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More health data for Nicaragua
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6599 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,175 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0058 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 5.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0033 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Nicaragua?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Nicaragua was 34.9% 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 34.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.0% in 1980.
- How does Nicaragua rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Nicaragua ranks 37th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.