Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 40.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Saudi Arabia, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 40.1% for prevalence rate of obesity in adults in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Saudi Arabia peaked at 40.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 15.8%, in 1980.
That places Saudi Arabia 23rd 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 15.8% | — |
| 1981 | 16.2% | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 16.7% | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 17.1% | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 17.6% | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 18.1% | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 18.6% | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 19.1% | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 19.6% | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 20.2% | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 20.8% | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 21.3% | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 21.9% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 22.5% | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 23.1% | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 23.7% | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 24.4% | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 25.1% | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 25.8% | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 26.6% | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 27.3% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 28.0% | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 28.7% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 29.4% | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 30.1% | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 30.7% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 31.4% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 32.0% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 32.7% | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 33.4% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 34.0% | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 34.6% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 35.1% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 35.7% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 36.1% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 36.6% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 37.1% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 37.5% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 38.0% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 38.4% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 38.8% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 39.2% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 39.5% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 39.8% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 40.1% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17.9% | 15.8% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.5% | 20.8% | 26.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.4% | 27.3% | 33.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.3% | 34.0% | 38.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.5% | 38.8% | 40.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 483.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 3.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1203 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Saudi Arabia?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Saudi Arabia was 40.1% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 40.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.8% in 1980.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 23rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.