Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 in Malawi

Malawi: Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 was 7.74 in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
7.74
Change on year
up 5.6%
World rank
174th
of 193 countries
All-time high
7.74
in 2022
All-time low
1.12
in 1990
Years of data
33
1990–2022

Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 in Malawi, 1990–2022

24681990200620221990: 1.11991: 1.21992: 1.31993: 1.31994: 1.41995: 1.51996: 1.61997: 1.71998: 1.81999: 22000: 2.12001: 2.32002: 2.42003: 2.62004: 2.82005: 32006: 3.22007: 3.42008: 3.62009: 3.82010: 42011: 4.32012: 4.52013: 4.82014: 52015: 5.32016: 5.62017: 5.92018: 6.22019: 6.62020: 6.92021: 7.32022: 7.7

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in Malawi is 7.74, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.6% on the previous year and up 72.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in Malawi peaked at 7.74 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.12, in 1990.

Malawi ranks 174th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 (Age-standardized estimate) in Malawi, 1990 to 2022.
Year Value Change
1990 1.12
1991 1.18 +5.4%
1992 1.26 +6.8%
1993 1.33 +5.6%
1994 1.42 +6.8%
1995 1.51 +6.3%
1996 1.61 +6.6%
1997 1.72 +6.8%
1998 1.84 +7.0%
1999 1.97 +7.1%
2000 2.11 +7.1%
2001 2.27 +7.6%
2002 2.43 +7.0%
2003 2.61 +7.4%
2004 2.79 +6.9%
2005 2.98 +6.8%
2006 3.18 +6.7%
2007 3.39 +6.6%
2008 3.6 +6.2%
2009 3.81 +5.8%
2010 4.03 +5.8%
2011 4.26 +5.7%
2012 4.5 +5.6%
2013 4.75 +5.6%
2014 5.01 +5.5%
2015 5.29 +5.6%
2016 5.58 +5.5%
2017 5.89 +5.6%
2018 6.23 +5.8%
2019 6.57 +5.5%
2020 6.94 +5.6%
2021 7.33 +5.6%
2022 7.74 +5.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.5 1.12 1.97 10
2000s 2.92 2.11 3.81 10
2010s 5.21 4.03 6.57 10
2020s 7.34 6.94 7.74 3

Countries ranked near Malawi

  1. 171 China 8.28 compare
  2. 172 Lao People's Democratic Republic 8.01 compare
  3. 173 Uganda 7.9 compare
  4. 175 Myanmar 7.43 compare
  5. 176 Republic of Korea 7.33 compare
  6. 177 India 7.27 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for Malawi

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in Malawi?
Prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in Malawi was 7.74 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 recorded in Malawi?
The highest recorded value was 7.74 in 2022.
What is the lowest prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 recorded in Malawi?
The lowest recorded value was 1.12 in 1990.
How does Malawi rank for prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30?
Malawi ranks 174th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 rising or falling in Malawi?
Over the last ten years it is up 72.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malawi 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.

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Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-obesity-among-adults-bmi-30-age-standardized-estimate/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 (Age-standardized estimate)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
349 places, 9,955 data points, 1990–2022
Last refreshed