Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Somalia
Somalia: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 14.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Somalia, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Somalia is 14.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 44.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Somalia peaked at 14.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1980.
That places Somalia 144th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Somalia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.2% | — |
| 1981 | 2.3% | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 2.4% | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 2.5% | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 2.6% | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 2.7% | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 2.8% | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 2.9% | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 3.1% | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 3.2% | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 3.4% | +4.6% |
| 1991 | 3.5% | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 3.7% | +4.8% |
| 1993 | 3.9% | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 4.0% | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 4.2% | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 4.7% | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 4.9% | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 5.2% | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 5.4% | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 5.7% | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 6.0% | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 6.4% | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 6.7% | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 7.0% | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 7.3% | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 7.7% | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 8.0% | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 8.4% | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 8.7% | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 9.1% | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 9.5% | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 9.9% | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 10.3% | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 10.7% | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 11.1% | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 11.6% | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 12.0% | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 12.5% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 12.9% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 13.4% | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 13.9% | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 14.4% | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 14.9% | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.7% | 2.2% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.2% | 3.4% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.9% | 5.4% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.5% | 8.7% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.9% | 12.9% | 14.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More health data for Somalia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.41 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8681 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 987.7 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 32,421 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 3.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.2294 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 3.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.2361 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Somalia?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Somalia was 14.9% 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1980.
- How does Somalia rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Somalia ranks 144th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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.