Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) was 7.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
7.8%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
60th
of 162 countries
All-time high
8.0%
in 2016
All-time low
7.0%
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in United Kingdom, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in United Kingdom is 7.8%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in United Kingdom peaked at 8.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 7.0%, in 2000.
United Kingdom ranks 60th of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.0% | — |
| 2001 | 7.0% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 7.1% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 7.2% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 7.3% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 7.3% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 7.4% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 7.5% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 7.5% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 7.6% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 7.7% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 7.9% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 7.9% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 8.0% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 8.0% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 8.0% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 8.0% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 7.9% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 7.9% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 7.8% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 7.8% | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 7.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.6%, 91% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 7.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.6%, 1.2× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.3% | 7.0% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.9% | 7.7% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.9% | 7.8% | 7.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 57 Nauru 8.2% compare
- 58 Bhutan 8.0% compare
- 59 Costa Rica 7.9% compare
- 61 Turkey 7.7% compare
- 62 Equatorial Guinea 7.5% compare
- 62 Dominican Republic 7.5% compare
- 62 Lesotho 7.5% compare
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % 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 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % 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 prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in United Kingdom?
- Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in United Kingdom was 7.8% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 8.0% in 2016.
- What is the lowest overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.0% in 2000.
- How does United Kingdom rank for overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%)?
- United Kingdom ranks 60th out of 162 countries with data for 2024.
- Is overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
Download this data
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