Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 31.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United Arab Emirates, 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 United Arab Emirates is 31.6%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United Arab Emirates peaked at 32.0% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 12.8%, in 1980.
That places United Arab Emirates 53rd 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 United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 12.8% | — |
| 1981 | 13.3% | +3.9% |
| 1982 | 13.9% | +4.4% |
| 1983 | 14.5% | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 15.1% | +4.4% |
| 1985 | 15.7% | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 16.3% | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 16.9% | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 17.5% | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 18.1% | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 18.7% | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 19.3% | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 19.9% | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 20.6% | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 21.2% | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 21.9% | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 22.6% | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 23.4% | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 24.1% | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 24.8% | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 25.5% | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 26.2% | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 26.8% | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 27.4% | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 28.0% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 28.5% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 29.4% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 29.8% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 30.2% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 30.7% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 31.0% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 31.2% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 31.4% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 31.6% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 31.8% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 31.9% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 32.0% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 32.0% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 31.9% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 31.9% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 31.9% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 31.8% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 31.7% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 31.6% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.4% | 12.8% | 18.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.6% | 18.7% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.1% | 25.5% | 30.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.6% | 30.7% | 32.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.8% | 31.6% | 31.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 50 El Salvador 32.2% compare
- 51 South Africa 31.8% compare
- 52 Honduras 31.8% compare
- 54 Grenada 31.5% compare
- 55 Hungary 31.4% compare
- 56 Uzbekistan 31.2% compare
More health data for United Arab Emirates
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.3472 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 308.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 287 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 13.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0013 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 20.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0017 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United Arab Emirates?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United Arab Emirates was 31.6% 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 32.0% in 2017.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.8% in 1980.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 53rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates 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.