Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita in China
China: Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita was 9.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita in China, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in China stood at 9.1%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.4% on the previous year and up 75.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in China peaked at 9.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1980.
China ranks 175th 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.
Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.7% | — |
| 1981 | 0.8% | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 0.8% | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 0.8% | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 0.8% | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 0.9% | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 0.9% | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 1.0% | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 1.0% | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 1.1% | +6.1% |
| 1991 | 1.2% | +6.3% |
| 1992 | 1.3% | +6.6% |
| 1993 | 1.4% | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | +7.0% |
| 1995 | 1.6% | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 1.7% | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 1.8% | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 2.0% | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 2.3% | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 2.4% | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 2.9% | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | +6.5% |
| 2008 | 3.5% | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 4.3% | +6.5% |
| 2012 | 4.6% | +6.4% |
| 2013 | 4.9% | +6.4% |
| 2014 | 5.2% | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 5.5% | +6.4% |
| 2016 | 5.8% | +6.3% |
| 2017 | 6.2% | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 6.6% | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 6.9% | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 7.3% | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 7.7% | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 8.2% | +5.5% |
| 2023 | 8.6% | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 9.1% | +5.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 9.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 28.6%, 32% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 9.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 24.6%, 37% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6% | 1.1% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.9% | 2.2% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 4.0% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.2% | 7.3% | 9.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 172 Philippines 9.7% compare
- 173 Guinea 9.4% compare
- 174 Mozambique 9.4% compare
- 176 Laos 9.0% compare
- 177 Central African Republic 8.9% compare
- 178 Myanmar 8.3% compare
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % 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 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in China?
- Share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in China was 9.1% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 9.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1980.
- How does China rank for share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita?
- China ranks 175th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Obesity is defined as having a body-mass index (BMI) ≥ 30. BMI is a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in meters) squared. GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.