Overweight among adults, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in South Africa
South Africa: Overweight among adults, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) was 55.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Overweight among adults, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in South Africa, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for overweight among adults, bmi ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in South Africa is 55.7%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, overweight among adults, bmi ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in South Africa peaked at 55.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 30.5%, in 1980.
That places South Africa 104th out of 198 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.
Overweight among adults, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 30.5% | — |
| 1981 | 31.2% | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 31.9% | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 32.6% | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 33.3% | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 34.1% | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 34.9% | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 35.6% | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 36.4% | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 37.2% | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 38.1% | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 38.9% | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 39.9% | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 40.5% | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 41.4% | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 42.8% | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 44.1% | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 45.2% | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 46.1% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 46.9% | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 47.7% | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 48.4% | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 49.2% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 49.9% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 50.6% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 51.2% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 51.8% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 52.4% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 52.9% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 53.2% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 53.5% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 53.8% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 54.0% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 54.1% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 54.2% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 54.3% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 54.5% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 54.7% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 54.8% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 54.9% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 55.1% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 55.2% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 55.4% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 55.5% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 55.7% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 33.8% | 30.5% | 37.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.4% | 38.1% | 46.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.7% | 47.7% | 53.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.3% | 53.5% | 54.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.4% | 55.1% | 55.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % 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 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % 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 overweight among adults, bmi ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in South Africa?
- Overweight among adults, bmi ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) in South Africa was 55.7% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest overweight among adults, bmi ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 55.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest overweight among adults, bmi ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.5% in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for overweight among adults, bmi ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate)?
- South Africa ranks 104th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is overweight among adults, bmi ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Overweight among adults, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (age-standardized estimate) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).