Obesity vs gdp in South Africa

South Africa: Obesity vs gdp was 31.3 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
31.3
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
56th
of 196 countries
All-time high
31.3
in 2024
All-time low
9.41
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024

Obesity vs gdp in South Africa, 1980–2024

10152025301980200220241980: 9.41981: 9.81982: 10.11983: 10.51984: 10.91985: 11.31986: 11.71987: 12.21988: 12.71989: 13.11990: 13.61991: 14.21992: 14.81993: 15.41994: 161995: 16.91996: 17.81997: 18.51998: 19.21999: 19.82000: 20.52001: 21.12002: 21.62003: 22.22004: 22.72005: 23.22006: 23.72007: 24.22008: 24.72009: 25.12010: 25.52011: 25.82012: 26.22013: 26.62014: 26.92015: 27.22016: 27.72017: 28.22018: 28.62019: 29.12020: 29.52021: 302022: 30.42023: 30.92024: 31.3

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2024, obesity vs gdp in South Africa stood at 31.3. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 16.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, obesity vs gdp in South Africa peaked at 31.3 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 9.41, in 1980.

South Africa ranks 56th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.

Obesity vs gdp in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Obesity vs gdp in South Africa, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 9.41
1981 9.75 +3.6%
1982 10.11 +3.7%
1983 10.49 +3.8%
1984 10.89 +3.9%
1985 11.31 +3.8%
1986 11.74 +3.8%
1987 12.18 +3.8%
1988 12.65 +3.8%
1989 13.14 +3.9%
1990 13.65 +3.9%
1991 14.2 +4.0%
1992 14.84 +4.5%
1993 15.36 +3.5%
1994 16.04 +4.4%
1995 16.94 +5.6%
1996 17.77 +4.9%
1997 18.55 +4.4%
1998 19.2 +3.5%
1999 19.84 +3.4%
2000 20.47 +3.2%
2001 21.07 +2.9%
2002 21.63 +2.6%
2003 22.16 +2.5%
2004 22.69 +2.4%
2005 23.21 +2.3%
2006 23.72 +2.2%
2007 24.2 +2.1%
2008 24.67 +1.9%
2009 25.1 +1.7%
2010 25.48 +1.5%
2011 25.84 +1.4%
2012 26.2 +1.4%
2013 26.57 +1.4%
2014 26.91 +1.3%
2015 27.21 +1.1%
2016 27.66 +1.7%
2017 28.19 +1.9%
2018 28.61 +1.5%
2019 29.06 +1.5%
2020 29.51 +1.6%
2021 29.97 +1.5%
2022 30.42 +1.5%
2023 30.87 +1.5%
2024 31.3 +1.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 11.17 9.41 13.14 10
1990s 16.64 13.65 19.84 10
2000s 22.89 20.47 25.1 10
2010s 27.17 25.48 29.06 10
2020s 30.41 29.51 31.3 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 53 Czechia 31.63 compare
  2. 54 Lebanon 31.48 compare
  3. 55 El Salvador 31.41 compare
  4. 57 North Macedonia 31.2 compare
  5. 58 Brazil 30.89 compare
  6. 59 Honduras 30.84 compare

See the full ranking of 199 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is obesity vs gdp in South Africa?
Obesity vs gdp in South Africa was 31.3 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest obesity vs gdp recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 31.3 in 2024.
What is the lowest obesity vs gdp recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 9.41 in 1980.
How does South Africa rank for obesity vs gdp?
South Africa ranks 56th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
Is obesity vs gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Obesity vs gdp. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Obesity vs gdp in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/obesity-vs-gdp/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Obesity vs gdp
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
199 places, 8,955 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed