Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Ireland

Ireland: Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) was 11.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
11.2%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
23rd
of 162 countries
All-time high
11.2%
in 2021
All-time low
7.9%
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Ireland, 2000–2024

02.557.5102000201220242000: 7.92001: 8.12002: 8.32003: 8.52004: 8.72005: 8.92006: 9.12007: 9.32008: 9.52009: 9.72010: 9.92011: 10.12012: 10.32013: 10.42014: 10.62015: 10.72016: 10.82017: 10.92018: 112019: 11.12020: 11.12021: 11.22022: 11.22023: 11.22024: 11.2

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

The most recent figure for overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Ireland is 11.2%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.

The figure is up 5.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Ireland peaked at 11.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 2000.

That places Ireland 23rd out of 162 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (% weight-for-height >+2 SD), model-based estimates in Ireland, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 7.9%
2001 8.1% +2.5%
2002 8.3% +2.5%
2003 8.5% +2.4%
2004 8.7% +2.4%
2005 8.9% +2.3%
2006 9.1% +2.2%
2007 9.3% +2.2%
2008 9.5% +2.2%
2009 9.7% +2.1%
2010 9.9% +2.1%
2011 10.1% +2.0%
2012 10.3% +2.0%
2013 10.4% +1.0%
2014 10.6% +1.9%
2015 10.7% +0.9%
2016 10.8% +0.9%
2017 10.9% +0.9%
2018 11.0% +0.9%
2019 11.1% +0.9%
2020 11.1% +0.0%
2021 11.2% +0.9%
2022 11.2% +0.0%
2023 11.2% +0.0%
2024 11.2% +0.0%

Ireland compared with similar countries

  • Ireland's 11.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.6%, 1.3× the median. (38 countries reporting)
  • Ireland's 11.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.6%, 1.7× the median. (33 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 8.8% 7.9% 9.7% 10
2010s 10.6% 9.9% 11.1% 10
2020s 11.2% 11.1% 11.2% 5

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 20 Serbia 12.2% compare
  2. 21 Botswana 11.5% compare
  3. 22 Canada 11.4% compare
  4. 23 Morocco 11.2% compare
  5. 23 Egypt 11.2% compare
  6. 26 China 11.1% compare

See the full ranking of 177 places →

More health data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Ireland?
Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Ireland was 11.2% in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 11.2% in 2021.
What is the lowest overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 2000.
How does Ireland rank for overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%)?
Ireland ranks 23rd out of 162 countries with data for 2024.
Is overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (% weight-for-height >+2 SD), model-based estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/overweight-prevalence-among-children-under-5-years-of-age-percent-weight-for-height-2-sd-2/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (% weight-for-height >+2 SD), model-based estimates
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
177 places, 4,555 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed