Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 (Age-standardized) in South Korea
South Korea: Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 (Age-standardized) was 7.33 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
7.33
Change on year
up 6.4%
World rank
176th
of 193 countries
All-time high
7.33
in 2022
All-time low
1.53
in 1990
Years of data
33
1990–2022
Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 in South Korea, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 7.33 for prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in 2022. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.4% on the previous year and up 78.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in South Korea peaked at 7.33 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.53, in 1990.
South Korea ranks 176th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 (Age-standardized) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.53 | — |
| 1991 | 1.59 | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 1.66 | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 1.73 | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 1.8 | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 1.88 | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 1.96 | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 2.04 | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 2.13 | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 2.23 | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 2.33 | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 2.43 | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 2.55 | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 2.67 | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 2.79 | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 2.93 | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 3.07 | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 3.22 | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 3.38 | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 3.55 | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 3.72 | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 3.91 | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 4.1 | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 4.32 | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 4.55 | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 4.81 | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 5.09 | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 5.4 | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 5.73 | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 6.09 | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 6.48 | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 6.89 | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 7.33 | +6.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 7.33 is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.82, 27% of the median. (61 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 7.33 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21.69, 34% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.85 | 1.53 | 2.23 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.89 | 2.33 | 3.55 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.77 | 3.72 | 6.09 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.9 | 6.48 | 7.33 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in South Korea?
- Prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in South Korea was 7.33 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 7.33 in 2022.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.53 in 1990.
- How does South Korea rank for prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30?
- South Korea ranks 176th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 78.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 (Age-standardized estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).