Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 in Southern Africa (UNSDG)

Southern Africa (UNSDG): Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 was 29.65 in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
29.65
Change on year
up 0.8%
Rank
31st
of 156 groups
All-time high
29.65
in 2022
All-time low
21.49
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022

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

01020302000201120222000: 21.52001: 22.12002: 22.82003: 23.32004: 23.92005: 24.52006: 25.12007: 25.62008: 262009: 26.42010: 26.72011: 272012: 27.22013: 27.52014: 27.72015: 27.92016: 28.12017: 28.32018: 28.62019: 28.92020: 29.12021: 29.42022: 29.7

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in Southern Africa (UNSDG) is 29.65, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in Southern Africa (UNSDG) peaked at 29.65 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 21.49, in 2000.

Southern Africa (UNSDG) ranks 31st of 156 groups on this measure, 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 Southern Africa (UNSDG), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of obesity among adults, BMI ≥ 30 (Age-standardized estimate) in Southern Africa (UNSDG), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 21.49
2001 22.07 +2.7%
2002 22.75 +3.1%
2003 23.35 +2.6%
2004 23.94 +2.6%
2005 24.53 +2.5%
2006 25.12 +2.4%
2007 25.62 +2.0%
2008 26.01 +1.6%
2009 26.41 +1.5%
2010 26.71 +1.2%
2011 27.02 +1.1%
2012 27.24 +0.8%
2013 27.46 +0.8%
2014 27.68 +0.8%
2015 27.91 +0.8%
2016 28.12 +0.8%
2017 28.34 +0.8%
2018 28.65 +1.1%
2019 28.88 +0.8%
2020 29.11 +0.8%
2021 29.43 +1.1%
2022 29.65 +0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 24.13 21.49 26.41 10
2010s 27.8 26.71 28.88 10
2020s 29.4 29.11 29.65 3

Countries ranked near Southern Africa (UNSDG)

  1. 28 Mexico 36.03 compare
  2. 29 Argentina 35.36 compare
  3. 30 Georgia 34.66 compare
  4. 31 Romania 34.04 compare
  5. 32 Syrian Arab Republic 33.94 compare
  6. 33 Fiji 33.84 compare
  7. 34 Jamaica 33.81 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for Southern Africa (UNSDG)

All data for Southern Africa (UNSDG) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in Southern Africa (UNSDG)?
Prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 in Southern Africa (UNSDG) was 29.65 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 recorded in Southern Africa (UNSDG)?
The highest recorded value was 29.65 in 2022.
What is the lowest prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 recorded in Southern Africa (UNSDG)?
The lowest recorded value was 21.49 in 2000.
How does Southern Africa (UNSDG) rank for prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30?
Southern Africa (UNSDG) ranks 31st out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of obesity among adults, bmi ≥ 30 rising or falling in Southern Africa (UNSDG)?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Southern Africa (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 Southern Africa (UNSDG). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-obesity-among-adults-bmi-30-age-standardized-estimate/southern-africa-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