Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita in Romania
Romania: Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita was 37.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of adults who are obese vs. GDP per capita in Romania, 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 Romania stood at 37.7%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 40.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in Romania peaked at 37.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 8.1%, in 1980.
That places Romania 30th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 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 Romania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 8.1% | — |
| 1981 | 8.2% | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 8.4% | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 8.6% | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 8.7% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 8.8% | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 8.9% | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 8.9% | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 9.0% | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 9.2% | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 9.3% | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 9.5% | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 9.7% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 9.9% | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 10.1% | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 10.4% | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 10.8% | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 11.2% | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 11.6% | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 12.2% | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 12.8% | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 13.5% | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 14.2% | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 15.0% | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 15.9% | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 16.8% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 17.8% | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 18.7% | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 19.8% | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 20.9% | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 22.1% | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 23.3% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 24.5% | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 25.6% | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 26.8% | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 28.0% | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 29.1% | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 30.3% | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 31.4% | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 32.5% | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 33.6% | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 34.7% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 35.6% | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 36.6% | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 37.7% | +2.8% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 37.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.0%, 1.3× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Romania's 37.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 25.3%, 1.5× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.7% | 8.1% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.5% | 9.3% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.6% | 12.8% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.4% | 22.1% | 32.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.6% | 33.6% | 37.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More health data for Romania
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.59 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0845 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,419 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 113 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.62 % 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 0.0235 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.52 % 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 Romania?
- Share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita in Romania was 37.7% 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 37.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.1% in 1980.
- How does Romania rank for share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita?
- Romania ranks 30th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of adults who are obese vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Romania 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.