Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United States
United States: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 41.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United States, 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 States is 41.0%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United States peaked at 41.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 12.1%, in 1980.
That places United States 19th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 12.1% | — |
| 1981 | 12.7% | +4.8% |
| 1982 | 13.3% | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 13.9% | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 14.5% | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 15.2% | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 15.8% | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 16.5% | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 17.2% | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 18.0% | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 18.7% | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 19.5% | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 20.3% | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 21.1% | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 21.9% | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 22.8% | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 23.7% | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 24.6% | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 25.6% | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 26.5% | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 27.5% | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 28.4% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 29.4% | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 30.3% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 31.3% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 32.1% | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 33.0% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 33.8% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 34.5% | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 35.2% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 35.8% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 36.4% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 36.9% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 37.3% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 37.8% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 38.2% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 38.6% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 39.0% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 39.3% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 39.6% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 39.9% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 40.2% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 40.4% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 40.7% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 41.0% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14.9% | 12.1% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.5% | 18.7% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.6% | 27.5% | 35.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.9% | 35.8% | 39.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.4% | 39.9% | 41.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0248 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 4.33 % 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 0.0172 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 3,044 (2023)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United States?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in United States was 41.0% 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 41.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.1% in 1980.
- How does United States rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- United States ranks 19th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.