Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 in South America (UNSDG)

South America (UNSDG): Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 was 28.56 in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
28.56
Change on year
up 3.1%
Rank
36th
of 156 groups
All-time high
28.56
in 2022
All-time low
13.95
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 in South America (UNSDG), 2000–2022

01020302000201120222000: 13.92001: 14.42002: 14.92003: 15.42004: 15.92005: 16.42006: 172007: 17.52008: 18.12009: 18.72010: 19.32011: 202012: 20.72013: 21.42014: 22.12015: 22.92016: 23.72017: 24.42018: 25.22019: 262020: 26.92021: 27.72022: 28.6

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in South America (UNSDG) is 28.56, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 38.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in South America (UNSDG) peaked at 28.56 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 13.95, in 2000.

That places South America (UNSDG) 36th out of 156 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 in South America (UNSDG), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 (Age-standardized estimate) in South America (UNSDG), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 13.95
2001 14.4 +3.3%
2002 14.92 +3.6%
2003 15.43 +3.4%
2004 15.89 +3.0%
2005 16.39 +3.1%
2006 16.97 +3.5%
2007 17.48 +3.0%
2008 18.06 +3.4%
2009 18.7 +3.5%
2010 19.29 +3.2%
2011 20.01 +3.7%
2012 20.68 +3.3%
2013 21.38 +3.4%
2014 22.11 +3.4%
2015 22.88 +3.5%
2016 23.66 +3.4%
2017 24.43 +3.3%
2018 25.24 +3.3%
2019 26.02 +3.1%
2020 26.88 +3.3%
2021 27.7 +3.1%
2022 28.56 +3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 16.22 13.95 18.7 10
2010s 22.57 19.29 26.02 10
2020s 27.71 26.88 28.56 3

Countries ranked near South America (UNSDG)

  1. 33 Fiji 33.84 compare
  2. 34 Jamaica 33.81 compare
  3. 35 New Zealand 33.62 compare
  4. 36 Saint Lucia 33.47 compare
  5. 37 Uruguay 33.34 compare
  6. 38 Türkiye 33.3 compare
  7. 39 Antigua and Barbuda 33.25 compare
  8. 39 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 33.25 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for South America (UNSDG)

All data for South America (UNSDG) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in South America (UNSDG)?
Prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in South America (UNSDG) was 28.56 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 recorded in South America (UNSDG)?
The highest recorded value was 28.56 in 2022.
What is the lowest prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 recorded in South America (UNSDG)?
The lowest recorded value was 13.95 in 2000.
How does South America (UNSDG) rank for prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30?
South America (UNSDG) ranks 36th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 rising or falling in South America (UNSDG)?
Over the last ten years it is up 38.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South America (UNSDG) 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 South America (UNSDG). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-obesity-among-adults-bmi-30-age-standardized-estimate/south-america-unsdg/

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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