Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 8.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone stood at 8.2%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 36.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Sierra Leone peaked at 8.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1980.
That places Sierra Leone 181st out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.0% | — |
| 1981 | 1.0% | +5.4% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 1.1% | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 1.2% | +5.9% |
| 1985 | 1.3% | +6.0% |
| 1986 | 1.4% | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 1.4% | +6.3% |
| 1988 | 1.5% | +6.4% |
| 1989 | 1.6% | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 1.7% | +6.6% |
| 1991 | 1.9% | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | +6.8% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | +6.9% |
| 1994 | 2.3% | +7.0% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | +7.2% |
| 1996 | 2.6% | +7.3% |
| 1997 | 2.8% | +7.4% |
| 1998 | 3.0% | +7.5% |
| 1999 | 3.2% | +7.5% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 3.7% | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 4.0% | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 4.2% | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 4.4% | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 4.7% | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 5.1% | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 5.2% | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 5.5% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 5.6% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 5.7% | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 5.9% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 6.2% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 6.3% | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 6.5% | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 6.7% | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 6.9% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 7.2% | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 7.4% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 7.7% | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 7.9% | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 8.2% | +3.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.3% | 1.0% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.4% | 1.7% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.5% | 3.5% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.1% | 5.5% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.7% | 7.2% | 8.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 178 Lao People's Democratic Republic 9.2% compare
- 179 South Sudan 8.9% compare
- 180 Republic of Korea 8.4% compare
- 182 Myanmar 8.1% compare
- 183 India 8.0% compare
- 184 Malawi 8.0% compare
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,199 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,209 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.8723 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1868 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.8951 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1897 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Sierra Leone?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Sierra Leone was 8.2% 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 8.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1980.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Sierra Leone ranks 181st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.