Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 14.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Zimbabwe, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 14.7% for prevalence rate of obesity in adults in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 36.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Zimbabwe peaked at 14.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 1980.
That places Zimbabwe 145th 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 Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.5% | — |
| 1981 | 5.7% | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 5.7% | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 5.8% | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 5.8% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 5.8% | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 5.8% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 5.8% | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 5.8% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 5.8% | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 5.9% | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 5.9% | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 5.9% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 5.9% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 6.0% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 6.1% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 6.2% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 6.3% | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 6.5% | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 6.6% | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 6.8% | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 7.0% | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 7.3% | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 7.7% | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 8.0% | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 8.3% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 8.5% | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 8.8% | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 9.1% | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 9.4% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 9.7% | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 10.1% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 10.4% | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 10.8% | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 11.1% | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 11.5% | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 11.9% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 12.2% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 12.6% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 13.0% | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 13.4% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 13.8% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 14.3% | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 14.7% | +3.1% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 14.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.0%, 92% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 14.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.7%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.8% | 5.5% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.1% | 5.9% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.9% | 6.8% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.0% | 9.4% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.9% | 13.0% | 14.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More health data for Zimbabwe
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.39 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,457 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9632 % 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 0.0689 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9673 % 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 0.0701 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Zimbabwe?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Zimbabwe was 14.7% 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 1980.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Zimbabwe ranks 145th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.