Percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +1 in South Africa
South Africa: Percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +1 was 20.97 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
20.97
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
119th
of 193 countries
All-time high
21.28
in 2013
All-time low
3.69
in 1990
Years of data
33
1990–2022
Percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +1 in South Africa, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +1 in South Africa is 20.97, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +1 in South Africa peaked at 21.28 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3.69, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 119th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +1 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.69 | — |
| 1991 | 3.92 | +6.2% |
| 1992 | 4.21 | +7.4% |
| 1993 | 4.55 | +8.1% |
| 1994 | 4.96 | +9.0% |
| 1995 | 5.44 | +9.7% |
| 1996 | 6 | +10.3% |
| 1997 | 6.65 | +10.8% |
| 1998 | 7.38 | +11.0% |
| 1999 | 8.22 | +11.4% |
| 2000 | 9.17 | +11.6% |
| 2001 | 10.24 | +11.7% |
| 2002 | 11.45 | +11.8% |
| 2003 | 12.75 | +11.4% |
| 2004 | 14.12 | +10.7% |
| 2005 | 15.5 | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 16.84 | +8.6% |
| 2007 | 18.08 | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 19.14 | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 19.97 | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 20.58 | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 20.98 | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 21.2 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 21.28 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 21.26 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 21.19 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 21.12 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 21.07 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 21.03 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 21.01 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 20.98 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 20.97 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 20.97 | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 20.97 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 30.72, 68% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 20.97 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.8, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.5 | 3.69 | 8.22 | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.73 | 9.17 | 19.97 | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.07 | 20.58 | 21.28 | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.97 | 20.97 | 20.98 | 3 |
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 percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +1 in South Africa?
- Percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +1 in South Africa was 20.97 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +1 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.28 in 2013.
- What is the lowest percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +1 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.69 in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +1?
- South Africa ranks 119th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +1 rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Percentage of overweight among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +1 standard deviations above the median (crude estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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