Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, male in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, male was 11.8% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, male in Saudi Arabia, 2004–2020
Source: UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children'. Measured in % of children under 5.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 11.8% for prevalence of overweight, weight for height, male in 2020.
That represents a change of down 18.1% on the previous year and up 0.9% over five years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of overweight, weight for height, male in Saudi Arabia peaked at 14.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 6.3%, in 2004.
Saudi Arabia ranks 7th of 85 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, male in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 6.3% | — |
| 2017 | 11.7% | +85.7% |
| 2018 | 11.1% | -5.1% |
| 2019 | 14.4% | +29.7% |
| 2020 | 11.8% | -18.1% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 11.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.7%, 1.5× the median. (9 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 11.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.6%, 1.2× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.3% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 11.1% | 14.4% | 3 |
| 2020s | 11.8% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 483.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 5.31 % 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 0.0384 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 5.38 % 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 overweight, weight for height, male in Saudi Arabia?
- Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, male in Saudi Arabia was 11.8% in 2020, according to UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children'.
- What is the highest prevalence of overweight, weight for height, male recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest prevalence of overweight, weight for height, male recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.3% in 2004.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for prevalence of overweight, weight for height, male?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 7th out of 85 countries with data for 2020.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, WHO, World Bank: Joint child Malnutrition Estimates (JME). Aggregation is based on UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank harmonized dataset (adjusted, comparable data) and methodology., UN Children', published as part of Prevalence of overweight, weight for height, male (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of overweight, male, is the percentage of boys 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.