Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Spain
Spain: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 15.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Spain, 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 Spain is 15.3%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Spain peaked at 20.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 12.6%, in 1980.
That places Spain 143rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Spain, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 12.6% | — |
| 1981 | 12.8% | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 13.0% | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 13.1% | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 13.3% | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 13.5% | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 13.7% | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 13.9% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 14.1% | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 14.4% | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 14.6% | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 14.9% | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 15.2% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 15.5% | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 15.9% | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 16.3% | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 16.7% | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 17.1% | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 17.6% | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 18.0% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 18.5% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 18.9% | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 19.3% | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 19.7% | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 20.1% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 20.4% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 20.6% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 20.7% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 20.8% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 20.8% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 20.7% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 20.5% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 20.2% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 19.9% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 19.5% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 19.1% | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 18.7% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 18.3% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 17.8% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 17.4% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 16.9% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 16.5% | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 16.1% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 15.7% | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 15.3% | -2.5% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 15.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 27.7%, 55% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Spain's 15.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 21.8%, 70% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13.5% | 12.6% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.2% | 14.6% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.0% | 18.5% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.2% | 17.4% | 20.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.1% | 15.3% | 16.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More health data for Spain
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.82 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2629 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 108 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.0396 % 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 0.0173 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.0227 % 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 0.0184 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Spain?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Spain was 15.3% 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 20.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.6% in 1980.
- How does Spain rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Spain ranks 143rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain 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.