Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female (modeled estimate, % of children under 5) by country
Prevalence of overweight, female, is the percentage of girls under age 5 whose weight for height is more than two standard deviations above the median for the international reference population of the corresponding age as established by the WHO's 2006 Child Growth Standards.
What the numbers show
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female (modeled estimate, % of children under 5) is currently reported for 163 countries. The highest value is 25.0% in Australia; the lowest is 0.6% in Myanmar.
The median across all reporting countries is 5.1%, and the mean is 6.4%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 42.
Over the past decade 103 countries rose and 57 fell. The largest increase was in Djibouti (up 410.0%), and the largest decrease in Libya (down 76.0%).
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, female: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 25.0% | 2024 | up 73.6% | rising |
| 2 | Papua New Guinea | 17.3% | 2024 | up 36.2% | rising |
| 3 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 17.2% | 2024 | up 15.4% | rising |
| 4 | Tunisia | 16.4% | 2024 | up 18.0% | rising |
| 5 | Albania | 15.6% | 2024 | down 11.4% | falling |
| 6 | Ukraine | 15.0% | 2024 | down 15.7% | falling |
| 7 | Paraguay | 14.4% | 2024 | up 35.8% | rising |
| 8 | Trinidad and Tobago | 14.0% | 2024 | up 26.1% | rising |
| 9 | Argentina | 13.4% | 2024 | up 28.8% | rising |
| 10 | Cameroon | 12.7% | 2024 | up 74.0% | rising |
| 11 | Greece | 12.6% | 2024 | down 2.3% | rising |
| 11 | Uruguay | 12.6% | 2024 | up 41.6% | rising |
| 13 | Algeria | 12.5% | 2024 | up 5.0% | falling |
| 14 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 12.2% | 2024 | down 20.3% | falling |
| 14 | Barbados | 12.2% | 2024 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 16 | Armenia | 12.0% | 2024 | down 8.4% | falling |
| 16 | South Africa | 12.0% | 2024 | down 3.2% | rising |
| 18 | North Macedonia | 11.5% | 2024 | up 3.6% | falling |
| 18 | Mongolia | 11.5% | 2024 | up 18.6% | rising |
| 20 | Serbia | 11.4% | 2024 | down 7.3% | falling |
| 21 | Botswana | 10.7% | 2024 | up 7.0% | rising |
| 22 | Canada | 10.6% | 2024 | up 1.0% | rising |
| 23 | Egypt | 10.5% | 2024 | down 18.6% | falling |
| 24 | China | 10.4% | 2024 | up 55.2% | rising |
| 24 | Ireland | 10.4% | 2024 | up 5.1% | rising |
| 24 | Morocco | 10.4% | 2024 | down 3.7% | falling |
| 27 | Syria | 10.3% | 2024 | down 24.8% | falling |
| 28 | Brazil | 10.2% | 2024 | up 36.0% | rising |
| 28 | Seychelles | 10.2% | 2024 | up 6.2% | rising |
| 30 | Panama | 10.1% | 2024 | down 3.8% | rising |
| 31 | Jordan | 9.9% | 2024 | up 70.7% | rising |
| 32 | Cuba | 9.8% | 2024 | up 11.4% | rising |
| 32 | Vietnam | 9.8% | 2024 | up 108.5% | volatile |
| 34 | Malta | 9.5% | 2024 | up 17.3% | rising |
| 34 | Eswatini | 9.5% | 2024 | up 3.3% | falling |
| 36 | Kuwait | 9.4% | 2024 | up 11.9% | rising |
| 37 | Bolivia | 9.2% | 2024 | up 12.2% | flat |
| 37 | Kyrgyzstan | 9.2% | 2024 | up 41.5% | falling |
| 37 | Thailand | 9.2% | 2024 | up 4.5% | rising |
| 40 | United States | 9.0% | 2024 | up 16.9% | rising |
| 41 | Russia | 8.9% | 2024 | up 6.0% | falling |
| 42 | Brunei | 8.8% | 2024 | up 8.6% | rising |
| 42 | Tonga | 8.8% | 2024 | down 34.8% | falling |
| 42 | Samoa | 8.8% | 2024 | up 49.2% | rising |
| 45 | Portugal | 8.7% | 2024 | up 10.1% | rising |
| 46 | Peru | 8.4% | 2024 | up 10.5% | falling |
| 47 | Oman | 8.2% | 2024 | up 164.5% | volatile |
| 47 | Palestine | 8.2% | 2024 | up 12.3% | rising |
| 49 | Chile | 8.1% | 2024 | down 9.0% | falling |
| 49 | Kazakhstan | 8.1% | 2024 | down 20.6% | falling |
| 51 | Montenegro | 8.0% | 2024 | down 36.5% | falling |
| 51 | Poland | 8.0% | 2024 | up 35.6% | rising |
| 51 | Qatar | 8.0% | 2024 | down 14.0% | falling |
| 54 | Saudi Arabia | 7.9% | 2024 | down 17.7% | rising |
| 54 | El Salvador | 7.9% | 2024 | up 25.4% | rising |
| 56 | Cape Verde | 7.8% | 2024 | up 52.9% | rising |
| 57 | Nauru | 7.6% | 2024 | up 72.7% | rising |
| 58 | Bhutan | 7.4% | 2024 | up 5.7% | rising |
| 59 | Costa Rica | 7.3% | 2024 | up 4.3% | flat |
| 59 | United Kingdom | 7.3% | 2024 | down 1.4% | rising |
| 61 | Turkey | 7.2% | 2024 | down 20.9% | rising |
| 62 | Dominican Republic | 7.0% | 2024 | down 1.4% | flat |
| 62 | Equatorial Guinea | 7.0% | 2024 | down 4.1% | falling |
| 62 | Lesotho | 7.0% | 2024 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 65 | Mexico | 6.9% | 2024 | up 9.5% | flat |
| 66 | Fiji | 6.8% | 2024 | up 6.2% | rising |
| 66 | Venezuela | 6.8% | 2024 | up 9.7% | rising |
| 68 | Colombia | 6.3% | 2024 | up 31.2% | rising |
| 68 | Saint Lucia | 6.3% | 2024 | up 10.5% | rising |
| 70 | Latvia | 6.2% | 2024 | up 10.7% | rising |
| 71 | Czechia | 6.1% | 2024 | up 29.8% | rising |
| 72 | Sao Tome and Principe | 6.0% | 2024 | up 114.3% | rising |
| 73 | Zambia | 5.9% | 2024 | up 9.3% | falling |
| 74 | Solomon Islands | 5.8% | 2024 | up 61.1% | rising |
| 75 | Gabon | 5.7% | 2024 | up 1.8% | falling |
| 75 | Liberia | 5.7% | 2024 | up 96.6% | rising |
| 77 | Namibia | 5.4% | 2024 | up 31.7% | rising |
| 78 | Belize | 5.3% | 2024 | down 29.3% | falling |
| 78 | Cambodia | 5.3% | 2024 | up 165.0% | rising |
| 80 | Estonia | 5.2% | 2024 | up 13.0% | rising |
| 81 | Bulgaria | 5.1% | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Djibouti | 5.1% | 2024 | up 410.0% | volatile |
| 81 | South Korea | 5.1% | 2024 | down 15.0% | falling |
| 81 | Sierra Leone | 5.1% | 2024 | up 121.7% | falling |
| 81 | Uzbekistan | 5.1% | 2024 | down 1.9% | falling |
| 81 | Vanuatu | 5.1% | 2024 | up 10.9% | rising |
| 87 | Netherlands | 5.0% | 2024 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 88 | Congo | 4.9% | 2024 | up 16.7% | falling |
| 88 | Malaysia | 4.9% | 2024 | down 14.0% | flat |
| 90 | Jamaica | 4.7% | 2024 | down 25.4% | falling |
| 90 | Rwanda | 4.7% | 2024 | down 11.3% | falling |
| 92 | Belgium | 4.6% | 2024 | up 35.3% | rising |
| 92 | Guyana | 4.6% | 2024 | down 23.3% | rising |
| 94 | Romania | 4.5% | 2024 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 95 | Angola | 4.4% | 2024 | up 51.7% | rising |
| 95 | Ecuador | 4.4% | 2024 | down 34.3% | rising |
| 95 | Finland | 4.4% | 2024 | up 18.9% | rising |
| 95 | Libya | 4.4% | 2024 | down 76.0% | falling |
| 95 | Mauritius | 4.4% | 2024 | up 4.8% | falling |
| 95 | Turkmenistan | 4.4% | 2024 | up 10.0% | falling |
| 95 | Tanzania | 4.4% | 2024 | up 15.8% | falling |
| 102 | Iraq | 4.3% | 2024 | down 50.6% | falling |
| 102 | Lithuania | 4.3% | 2024 | up 7.5% | flat |
| 102 | Marshall Islands | 4.3% | 2024 | up 16.2% | rising |
| 102 | Tajikistan | 4.3% | 2024 | up 2.4% | falling |
| 106 | Lebanon | 4.2% | 2024 | down 26.3% | falling |
| 107 | Afghanistan | 4.1% | 2024 | down 6.8% | falling |
| 107 | Guinea | 4.1% | 2024 | up 10.8% | falling |
| 107 | Mozambique | 4.1% | 2024 | down 12.8% | falling |
| 107 | Malawi | 4.1% | 2024 | up 10.8% | falling |
| 111 | Kenya | 4.0% | 2024 | down 4.8% | falling |
| 111 | South Sudan | 4.0% | 2024 | down 13.0% | falling |
| 113 | Azerbaijan | 3.9% | 2024 | down 59.4% | falling |
| 113 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 3.9% | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 113 | Honduras | 3.9% | 2024 | down 18.8% | rising |
| 113 | Uganda | 3.9% | 2024 | up 14.7% | falling |
| 117 | Georgia | 3.8% | 2024 | down 63.5% | falling |
| 117 | Moldova | 3.8% | 2024 | down 5.0% | falling |
| 117 | Tuvalu | 3.8% | 2024 | down 19.1% | falling |
| 120 | Comoros | 3.7% | 2024 | down 54.3% | falling |
| 120 | Zimbabwe | 3.7% | 2024 | up 2.8% | falling |
| 122 | Haiti | 3.6% | 2024 | up 9.1% | rising |
| 123 | Benin | 3.5% | 2024 | up 118.8% | rising |
| 123 | Guatemala | 3.5% | 2024 | down 7.9% | falling |
| 123 | Singapore | 3.5% | 2024 | up 34.6% | rising |
| 123 | Suriname | 3.5% | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 127 | India | 3.4% | 2024 | up 70.0% | rising |
| 127 | Laos | 3.4% | 2024 | up 54.5% | rising |
| 129 | Cote d'Ivoire | 3.3% | 2024 | up 57.1% | falling |
| 129 | Guinea-Bissau | 3.3% | 2024 | up 73.7% | falling |
| 129 | Togo | 3.3% | 2024 | up 153.8% | rising |
| 132 | Belarus | 3.2% | 2024 | down 23.8% | falling |
| 133 | Germany | 3.1% | 2024 | up 3.3% | falling |
| 133 | Ethiopia | 3.1% | 2024 | up 29.2% | falling |
| 133 | Philippines | 3.1% | 2024 | down 3.1% | rising |
| 133 | North Korea | 3.1% | 2024 | up 93.8% | rising |
| 137 | Maldives | 2.8% | 2024 | down 44.0% | falling |
| 138 | Burkina Faso | 2.6% | 2024 | up 160.0% | rising |
| 138 | Eritrea | 2.6% | 2024 | up 52.9% | rising |
| 140 | Gambia | 2.5% | 2024 | up 47.1% | falling |
| 140 | Iran | 2.5% | 2024 | down 28.6% | falling |
| 142 | Indonesia | 2.4% | 2024 | down 69.6% | rising |
| 142 | Niger | 2.4% | 2024 | up 300.0% | volatile |
| 142 | Sudan | 2.4% | 2024 | up 9.1% | falling |
| 145 | Somalia | 2.3% | 2024 | up 4.5% | falling |
| 145 | Chad | 2.3% | 2024 | up 15.0% | falling |
| 147 | Burundi | 2.2% | 2024 | up 22.2% | falling |
| 147 | Madagascar | 2.2% | 2024 | up 69.2% | falling |
| 149 | Central African Republic | 2.1% | 2024 | up 10.5% | volatile |
| 150 | Kiribati | 2.0% | 2024 | up 11.1% | falling |
| 150 | Senegal | 2.0% | 2024 | up 66.7% | falling |
| 152 | Pakistan | 1.9% | 2024 | down 52.5% | falling |
| 153 | Japan | 1.8% | 2024 | up 28.6% | rising |
| 154 | Ghana | 1.7% | 2024 | down 22.7% | falling |
| 155 | Nepal | 1.6% | 2024 | up 23.1% | rising |
| 155 | Yemen | 1.6% | 2024 | down 15.8% | falling |
| 157 | Bangladesh | 1.5% | 2024 | down 11.8% | rising |
| 157 | Mauritania | 1.5% | 2024 | up 15.4% | falling |
| 157 | Nigeria | 1.5% | 2024 | down 16.7% | volatile |
| 160 | Mali | 1.2% | 2024 | up 9.1% | falling |
| 161 | East Timor | 1.1% | 2024 | down 42.1% | falling |
| 162 | Sri Lanka | 0.8% | 2024 | down 27.3% | flat |
| 163 | Myanmar | 0.6% | 2024 | down 57.1% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Late-demographic dividend 9.4%
- North America 9.2%
- Latin America & Caribbean 8.2%
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 8.1%
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 8.1%
- Post-demographic dividend 8.0%
- Upper middle income 8.0%
- High income 7.8%
- Caribbean Small States 7.6%
- OECD members 7.6%
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 7.5%
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 7.3%
- East Asia & Pacific 7.3%
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 7.3%
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 7.1%
- Europe & Central Asia 7.0%
- Arab World 6.8%
- Central Europe and the Baltics 6.4%
- IBRD only 6.3%
- Pacific island small states 6.1%
- Small states 6.0%
- Other small states 5.5%
- Middle income 5.1%
- World 5.1%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 5.0%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 5.0%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 4.9%
- IDA & IBRD total 4.9%
- Low & middle income 4.8%
- Early-demographic dividend 4.1%
- Africa Eastern and Southern 4.1%
- Lower middle income 3.7%
- Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 3.7%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 3.6%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 3.6%
- Sub-Saharan Africa 3.6%
- Pre-demographic dividend 3.4%
- Low income 3.3%
- IDA only 3.2%
- South Asia 3.1%
About this data
Prevalence of overweight, female, is the percentage of girls under age 5 whose weight for height is more than two standard deviations above the median for the international reference population of the corresponding age as established by the WHO's 2006 Child Growth Standards.