Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)

Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG): Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 was 3.66 in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
3.66
Change on year
up 7.3%
Rank
140th
of 156 groups
All-time high
3.66
in 2022
All-time low
1.08
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG), 2000–2022

12342000201120222000: 1.12001: 1.22002: 1.32003: 1.42004: 1.52005: 1.62006: 1.72007: 1.82008: 1.92009: 22010: 22011: 2.12012: 2.22013: 2.32014: 2.32015: 2.42016: 2.52017: 2.72018: 2.82019: 32020: 3.22021: 3.42022: 3.7

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) recorded 3.66 for prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 in 2022. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of up 7.3% on the previous year and up 68.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) peaked at 3.66 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.08, in 2000.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) 140th out of 156 groups with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG), year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 standard deviations above the median (Crude estimate) in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 1.08
2001 1.19 +10.4%
2002 1.28 +7.2%
2003 1.38 +7.7%
2004 1.49 +8.4%
2005 1.59 +6.5%
2006 1.69 +6.4%
2007 1.79 +6.1%
2008 1.88 +4.9%
2009 1.97 +4.8%
2010 2.04 +3.3%
2011 2.1 +3.4%
2012 2.17 +3.4%
2013 2.26 +3.8%
2014 2.34 +3.6%
2015 2.44 +4.2%
2016 2.54 +4.0%
2017 2.68 +5.7%
2018 2.85 +6.1%
2019 3.01 +5.9%
2020 3.21 +6.4%
2021 3.41 +6.2%
2022 3.66 +7.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1.53 1.08 1.97 10
2010s 2.44 2.04 3.01 10
2020s 3.42 3.21 3.66 3

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)

  1. 137 Philippines 5.94 compare
  2. 138 Bhutan 5.88 compare
  3. 139 Morocco 5.73 compare
  4. 140 Kazakhstan 5.66 compare
  5. 141 Denmark 5.57 compare
  6. 142 Mali 5.49 compare
  7. 143 South Sudan 5.48 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)?
Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) was 3.66 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)?
The highest recorded value was 3.66 in 2022.
What is the lowest prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)?
The lowest recorded value was 1.08 in 2000.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) rank for prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2?
Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) ranks 140th out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG)?
Over the last ten years it is up 68.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG) 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.

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Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNSDG). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-obesity-among-children-aged-5-19-years-bmi-2-standard-deviations-above-the/sub-saharan-africa-unsdg/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 standard deviations above the median (Crude estimate)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
349 places, 9,957 data points, 1990–2022
Last refreshed