Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Palau
Palau: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 40.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Palau, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Palau stood at 40.5%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Palau peaked at 40.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 26.7%, in 1980.
That places Palau 20th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Palau, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 26.7% | — |
| 1981 | 27.2% | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 27.8% | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 28.4% | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 29.0% | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 29.6% | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 30.2% | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 30.8% | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 31.3% | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 31.9% | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 32.4% | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 33.0% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 33.5% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 33.9% | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 34.4% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 34.8% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 35.1% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 35.5% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 35.8% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 36.1% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 36.4% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 36.6% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 36.9% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 37.2% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 37.4% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 37.7% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 37.9% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 38.1% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 38.3% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 38.5% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 38.7% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 38.9% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 39.0% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 39.2% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 39.3% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 39.4% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 39.5% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 39.6% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 39.7% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 39.8% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 39.9% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 40.1% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 40.2% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 40.3% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 40.5% | +0.4% |
Palau compared with similar countries
- Palau's 40.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 27.7%, 1.5× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Palau's 40.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 24.2%, 1.7× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 29.3% | 26.7% | 31.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 34.4% | 32.4% | 36.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.5% | 36.4% | 38.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.3% | 38.7% | 39.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.2% | 39.9% | 40.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Palau
- 17 Qatar 42.0% compare
- 18 Marshall Islands 42.0% compare
- 19 United States 41.0% compare
- 21 Chile 40.5% compare
- 22 Kuwait 40.4% compare
- 23 Saudi Arabia 40.1% compare
More health data for Palau
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2087)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2689 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 0 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.12 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.998 % 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 0.0281 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Palau?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Palau was 40.5% 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 Palau?
- The highest recorded value was 40.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Palau?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.7% in 1980.
- How does Palau rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Palau ranks 20th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Palau?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Palau 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.