Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Africa (WHO region)
Africa (WHO region): Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ was 17.3% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
17.3%
Change on year
down 0.6%
Rank
10th
of 11 groups
All-time high
21.7%
in 2000
All-time low
17.3%
in 2022
Years of data
23
2000–2022
Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Africa (WHO region), 2000–2022
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2022, prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Africa (WHO region) stood at 17.3%. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Africa (WHO region) peaked at 21.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 17.3%, in 2022.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Africa (WHO region), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21.7% | — |
| 2001 | 21.5% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 21.3% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 21.1% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 20.9% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 20.6% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 20.4% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 20.2% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 20.0% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 19.7% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 19.5% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 19.2% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 19.0% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 18.8% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 18.5% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 18.3% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 18.2% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 18.0% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 17.8% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 17.6% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 17.5% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 17.4% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 17.3% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20.7% | 19.7% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.5% | 17.6% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.4% | 17.3% | 17.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Africa (WHO region)
- 7 Qatar 53.5% compare
- 8 Iraq 52.0% compare
- 9 Portugal 51.7% compare
- 10 Saudi Arabia 51.5% compare
- 11 Costa Rica 49.7% compare
- 12 India 49.4% compare
- 13 Iran, Islamic Republic of 46.3% compare
More health data for Africa (WHO region)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1,654 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 179,400 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,261 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 20,578 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 12,202 (2025)
- Number of under-five deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of neonatal deaths, annual growth rate -0.0365 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8695 % change on previous year (2024)
- Measles - number of reported cases, annual growth rate -8.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, annual growth rate 160.28 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Africa (WHO region)?
- Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ in Africa (WHO region) was 17.3% in 2022, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ recorded in Africa (WHO region)?
- The highest recorded value was 21.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ recorded in Africa (WHO region)?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.3% in 2022.
- How does Africa (WHO region) rank for prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+?
- Africa (WHO region) ranks 10th out of 11 groups with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ rising or falling in Africa (WHO region)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa (WHO region) data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18+ years (age-standardized estimate) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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