Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita in South Korea
South Korea: Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita was 7.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita in South Korea, 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 share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in South Korea is 7.5%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 66.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in South Korea peaked at 7.5% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1980.
That places South Korea 183rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.0% | — |
| 1981 | 1.0% | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 1.1% | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 1.1% | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 1.2% | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 1.2% | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 1.3% | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 1.3% | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 1.4% | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 1.4% | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 1.5% | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 1.6% | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 1.7% | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 1.8% | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 1.9% | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 2.0% | +5.0% |
| 1998 | 2.1% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 2.2% | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 2.3% | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 2.4% | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 2.6% | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 3.0% | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 3.8% | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 4.1% | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 4.5% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 4.7% | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 5.5% | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 5.8% | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 6.1% | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 6.4% | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 6.8% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 7.1% | +5.3% |
| 2024 | 7.5% | +5.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 7.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 30.0%, 25% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 7.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 24.6%, 31% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.9% | 2.3% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.7% | 3.8% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.8% | 6.1% | 7.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 South Korea?
- Share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in South Korea was 7.5% 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 7.5% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1980.
- How does South Korea rank for share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita?
- South Korea ranks 183rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.