Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 42.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Puerto Rico, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Puerto Rico recorded 42.4% for prevalence rate of obesity in adults in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Puerto Rico peaked at 42.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 11.8%, in 1980.
That places Puerto Rico 16th 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 Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 11.8% | — |
| 1981 | 12.3% | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 12.8% | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 13.3% | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 13.9% | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 14.4% | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 15.0% | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 15.7% | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 16.3% | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 17.0% | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 17.6% | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 18.3% | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 19.1% | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 19.8% | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 20.6% | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 21.4% | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 22.2% | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 23.1% | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 23.9% | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 24.8% | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 25.7% | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 26.5% | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 27.4% | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 28.2% | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 29.0% | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 29.7% | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 30.5% | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 31.2% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 31.9% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 32.6% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 33.3% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 34.0% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 34.7% | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 35.3% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 36.0% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 36.6% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 37.3% | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 38.0% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 38.6% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 39.2% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 39.9% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 40.5% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 41.1% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 41.8% | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 42.4% | +1.5% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 42.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 27.7%, 1.5× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 42.4% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 32.6%, 1.3× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14.2% | 11.8% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.1% | 17.6% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.3% | 25.7% | 32.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.3% | 33.3% | 39.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.1% | 39.9% | 42.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More health data for Puerto Rico
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -20 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.4804 % 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 0.0145 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.8484 % 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 0.0152 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, annual growth rate -6.19 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Puerto Rico?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Puerto Rico was 42.4% 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 42.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.8% in 1980.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Puerto Rico ranks 16th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.