Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Panama
Panama: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 37.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Panama, 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 Panama stood at 37.7%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and up 31.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Panama peaked at 37.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 7.0%, in 1980.
Panama ranks 27th of 199 countries on this measure, 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 Panama, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 7.0% | — |
| 1981 | 7.3% | +4.6% |
| 1982 | 7.6% | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 8.0% | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 8.4% | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 8.8% | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 9.2% | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 9.6% | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 10.1% | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 10.6% | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 11.1% | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 11.6% | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 12.1% | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 12.7% | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 13.3% | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 13.9% | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 14.5% | +4.6% |
| 1997 | 15.2% | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 15.9% | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 16.6% | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 17.3% | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 18.0% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 18.7% | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 19.4% | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 20.2% | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 20.9% | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 21.7% | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 22.5% | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 23.3% | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 24.2% | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 25.0% | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 25.9% | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 26.8% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 27.7% | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 28.6% | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 29.5% | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 30.4% | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 31.4% | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 32.3% | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 33.2% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 34.1% | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 35.0% | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 35.9% | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 36.8% | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 37.7% | +2.5% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 37.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 27.7%, 1.4× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Panama's 37.7% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 32.6%, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.6% | 7.0% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.7% | 11.1% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.6% | 17.3% | 24.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.1% | 25.0% | 33.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.9% | 34.1% | 37.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More health data for Panama
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.5994 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 101 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.2522 % 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 0.0378 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.3451 % 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 0.0398 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Panama?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Panama was 37.7% 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 Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 37.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.0% in 1980.
- How does Panama rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Panama ranks 27th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Panama 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.