Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Uganda
Uganda: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 9.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Uganda, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Uganda recorded 9.5% for prevalence rate of obesity in adults in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.0% on the previous year and up 80.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Uganda peaked at 9.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 1980.
Uganda ranks 176th 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 Uganda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.8% | — |
| 1981 | 0.8% | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 0.9% | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 0.9% | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 1.0% | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 1.1% | +4.6% |
| 1989 | 1.2% | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 1.2% | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 1.3% | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 1.3% | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 1.4% | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 1.6% | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 1.7% | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 1.8% | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 2.0% | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | +6.8% |
| 2001 | 2.3% | +6.9% |
| 2002 | 2.4% | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 3.0% | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | +6.6% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 4.3% | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 4.6% | +6.4% |
| 2013 | 4.9% | +6.5% |
| 2014 | 5.2% | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 5.9% | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 6.3% | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 6.7% | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 7.1% | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 7.5% | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 8.0% | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 8.4% | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 8.9% | +5.9% |
| 2024 | 9.5% | +6.0% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 9.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.5%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 9.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.7%, 75% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6% | 1.2% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.9% | 2.1% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 4.1% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.5% | 7.5% | 9.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
- 173 Mozambique 10.6% compare
- 174 Guinea 10.6% compare
- 175 Philippines 9.6% compare
- 177 China 9.3% compare
- 178 Laos 9.2% compare
- 179 South Sudan 8.9% compare
More health data for Uganda
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,666 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 111 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0787 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0804 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Uganda?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Uganda was 9.5% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 1980.
- How does Uganda rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Uganda ranks 176th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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.