Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 (Age-standardized) in Malawi
Malawi: Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 (Age-standardized) was 7.74 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 in Malawi, 1990–2022
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 (Age-standardized) in Malawi, year by year
| 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% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 7.74 is below the median for low income countries, which is 8.6, 90% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 7.74 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.6, 67% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 6,399 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0718 units per person (2025)
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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).