Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 was 7.08 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
7.08
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
120th
of 193 countries
All-time high
7.5
in 2012
All-time low
0.61
in 1990
Years of data
33
1990–2022
Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 in South Africa, 1990–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2022, prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 in South Africa stood at 7.08.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 in South Africa peaked at 7.5 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.61, in 1990.
That places South Africa 120th out of 193 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.61 | — |
| 1991 | 0.68 | +11.5% |
| 1992 | 0.77 | +13.2% |
| 1993 | 0.88 | +14.3% |
| 1994 | 1.01 | +14.8% |
| 1995 | 1.16 | +14.9% |
| 1996 | 1.35 | +16.4% |
| 1997 | 1.57 | +16.3% |
| 1998 | 1.83 | +16.6% |
| 1999 | 2.13 | +16.4% |
| 2000 | 2.49 | +16.9% |
| 2001 | 2.91 | +16.9% |
| 2002 | 3.4 | +16.8% |
| 2003 | 3.93 | +15.6% |
| 2004 | 4.5 | +14.5% |
| 2005 | 5.1 | +13.3% |
| 2006 | 5.68 | +11.4% |
| 2007 | 6.23 | +9.7% |
| 2008 | 6.7 | +7.5% |
| 2009 | 7.06 | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 7.3 | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 7.45 | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 7.5 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 7.48 | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 7.43 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 7.36 | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 7.29 | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 7.23 | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 7.19 | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 7.15 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 7.12 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 7.1 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 7.08 | -0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.08 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.29, 58% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.08 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.29, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.2 | 0.61 | 2.13 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.8 | 2.49 | 7.06 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.34 | 7.15 | 7.5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.1 | 7.08 | 7.12 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % 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 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 in South Africa?
- Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 in South Africa was 7.08 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.5 in 2012.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.61 in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2?
- South Africa ranks 120th out of 193 countries with data for 2022.
- Is prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 standard deviations above the median (Crude estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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