Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in South Sudan
South Sudan: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 8.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in South Sudan, 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 South Sudan stood at 8.9%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 53.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in South Sudan peaked at 8.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 1980.
South Sudan ranks 179th of 199 countries on this measure, 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 South Sudan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.2% | — |
| 1981 | 1.3% | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 1.3% | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 1.4% | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 1.4% | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 1.5% | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 1.5% | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 1.6% | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 1.7% | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 1.7% | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 1.8% | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 1.9% | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 2.2% | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 2.3% | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 2.4% | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 2.5% | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 2.8% | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 3.0% | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 3.3% | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 3.5% | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 3.7% | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 3.9% | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 4.1% | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 4.5% | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 4.7% | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 4.9% | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 5.3% | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 5.5% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 5.8% | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 6.1% | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 6.3% | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 6.6% | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 6.9% | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 7.2% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 7.5% | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 7.9% | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 8.2% | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 8.5% | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 8.9% | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.8% | 3.0% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 4.9% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.2% | 7.5% | 8.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
- 176 Uganda 9.5% compare
- 177 China 9.3% compare
- 178 Lao People's Democratic Republic 9.2% compare
- 180 Republic of Korea 8.4% compare
- 181 Sierra Leone 8.2% compare
- 182 Myanmar 8.1% compare
More health data for South Sudan
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.665 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.47 % change on previous year (2100)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,347 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 12,029 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 123 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 123 deaths (2026)
- Population ages 0-14, total 4.63 million (2025)
- Population, male 49.2% (2025)
- Age population, age 06, female, interpolated 138,289 (2025)
- Age population, age 06, male, interpolated 141,133 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in South Sudan?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in South Sudan was 8.9% 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 South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 8.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 1980.
- How does South Sudan rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- South Sudan ranks 179th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Sudan 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.