Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)

West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions): Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 was 4.2 in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
4.2
Change on year
up 7.6%
Rank
121st
of 156 groups
All-time high
4.2
in 2022
All-time low
1.19
in 2000
Years of data
23
2000–2022

Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, BMI > +2 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions), 2000–2022

12342000201120222000: 1.22001: 1.32002: 1.42003: 1.52004: 1.62005: 1.72006: 1.82007: 1.92008: 22009: 2.12010: 2.22011: 2.32012: 2.42013: 2.52014: 2.62015: 2.72016: 2.92017: 32018: 3.22019: 3.42020: 3.72021: 3.92022: 4.2

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2022, prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) stood at 4.2. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is up 7.6% on the previous year and up 77.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) peaked at 4.2 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.19, in 2000.

West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) ranks 121st of 156 groups on this measure, 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 West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions), 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 West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions), 2000 to 2022.
Year Value Change
2000 1.19
2001 1.28 +8.0%
2002 1.38 +7.5%
2003 1.48 +7.5%
2004 1.58 +6.6%
2005 1.68 +6.2%
2006 1.79 +6.4%
2007 1.89 +5.8%
2008 1.99 +5.1%
2009 2.11 +5.9%
2010 2.16 +2.7%
2011 2.27 +4.8%
2012 2.36 +4.3%
2013 2.46 +4.1%
2014 2.58 +5.0%
2015 2.71 +4.8%
2016 2.85 +5.2%
2017 3.04 +6.6%
2018 3.24 +6.6%
2019 3.44 +6.3%
2020 3.68 +6.9%
2021 3.91 +6.3%
2022 4.2 +7.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1.64 1.19 2.11 10
2010s 2.71 2.16 3.44 10
2020s 3.93 3.68 4.2 3

Countries ranked near West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)

  1. 118 Myanmar 7.39 compare
  2. 119 Poland 7.15 compare
  3. 120 Lithuania 7.08 compare
  4. 120 South Africa 7.08 compare
  5. 122 Ghana 7 compare
  6. 123 Switzerland 6.96 compare
  7. 124 Eswatini 6.81 compare

See the full ranking of 349 places →

More health data for West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)

All data for West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
Prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) was 4.2 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 recorded in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
The highest recorded value was 4.2 in 2022.
What is the lowest prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 recorded in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
The lowest recorded value was 1.19 in 2000.
How does West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) rank for prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2?
West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) ranks 121st out of 156 groups with data for 2022.
Is prevalence of obesity among children aged 5-19 years, bmi > +2 rising or falling in West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions)?
Over the last ten years it is up 77.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions) 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 West and Central Africa (UNICEF Prog.regions). Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-obesity-among-children-aged-5-19-years-bmi-2-standard-deviations-above-the/west-and-central-africa-unicef-prog-regions/

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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