Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 27.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United Kingdom, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 27.4% 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 0.7% on the previous year and up 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United Kingdom peaked at 27.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 1980.
United Kingdom ranks 78th of 199 countries on this measure, 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 Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 6.9% | — |
| 1981 | 7.3% | +5.9% |
| 1982 | 7.8% | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 8.2% | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 8.7% | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 9.2% | +5.7% |
| 1986 | 9.7% | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 10.2% | +5.5% |
| 1988 | 10.8% | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 11.4% | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 12.0% | +5.3% |
| 1991 | 12.6% | +5.3% |
| 1992 | 13.3% | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 14.0% | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 14.7% | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 15.4% | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 16.1% | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 16.8% | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 17.6% | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 18.3% | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 19.1% | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 19.8% | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 20.4% | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 21.1% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 21.7% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 22.3% | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 22.8% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 23.3% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 23.7% | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 24.1% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 24.4% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 24.7% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 24.9% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 25.2% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 25.4% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 25.6% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 25.8% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 26.0% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 26.3% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 26.4% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 26.6% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 26.8% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 27.0% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 27.2% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 27.4% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.0% | 6.9% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.1% | 12.0% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.8% | 19.1% | 24.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.5% | 24.4% | 26.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.0% | 26.6% | 27.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0316 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 2.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0224 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 859 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United Kingdom?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United Kingdom was 27.4% 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 Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 27.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 1980.
- How does United Kingdom rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- United Kingdom ranks 78th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.