Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in United States
United States: Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) was 9.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in United States, 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 States is 9.7%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in United States peaked at 9.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 7.7%, in 2000.
That places United States 40th 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 United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.7% | — |
| 2001 | 7.7% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 7.8% | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 7.9% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 7.9% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 8.0% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 8.0% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 8.1% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 8.1% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 8.1% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 8.1% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 8.2% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 8.2% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 8.3% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 8.3% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 8.4% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 8.4% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 8.5% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 8.6% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 8.8% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 8.9% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 9.1% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 9.2% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 9.4% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 9.7% | +3.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 9.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.6%, 1.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.4% | 8.1% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.3% | 8.9% | 9.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % 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 States?
- Overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) in United States was 9.7% 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 9.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.7% in 2000.
- How does United States rank for overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%)?
- United States ranks 40th out of 162 countries with data for 2024.
- Is overweight prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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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