Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 (Age-standardized) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 (Age-standardized) was 22.1 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 in Malaysia, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in Malaysia is 22.1, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 37.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in Malaysia peaked at 22.1 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5.11, in 1990.
That places Malaysia 99th out of 193 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.11 | — |
| 1991 | 5.43 | +6.3% |
| 1992 | 5.78 | +6.4% |
| 1993 | 6.14 | +6.2% |
| 1994 | 6.52 | +6.2% |
| 1995 | 6.92 | +6.1% |
| 1996 | 7.34 | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 7.79 | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 8.27 | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 8.77 | +6.0% |
| 2000 | 9.29 | +5.9% |
| 2001 | 9.82 | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 10.37 | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 10.94 | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 11.52 | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 12.1 | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 12.69 | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 13.27 | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 13.84 | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 14.4 | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 14.95 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 15.49 | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 16.03 | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 16.58 | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 17.14 | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 17.72 | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 18.31 | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 18.91 | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 19.52 | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 20.15 | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 20.78 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 21.43 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 22.1 | +3.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 22.1 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 26.68, 83% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 22.1 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21.69, 1.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.81 | 5.11 | 8.77 | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.82 | 9.29 | 14.4 | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.48 | 14.95 | 20.15 | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.44 | 20.78 | 22.1 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 652 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 18 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7207 % 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 0.0297 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5991 % 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 0.0316 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in Malaysia?
- Prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in Malaysia was 22.1 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 22.1 in 2022.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.11 in 1990.
- How does Malaysia rank for prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30?
- Malaysia ranks 99th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia 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).