Prevalence of overweight, weight for height (modeled estimate, % of children under 5) by country
Prevalence of overweight children is the percentage of children 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.
Countries reporting
163
Highest
26.4%
Australia
Lowest
0.6%
Myanmar
Median
5.5%
Years covered
25
2000–2024
Data points
5,200
What the numbers show
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height (modeled estimate, % of children under 5) is currently reported for 163 countries. The highest value is 26.4% in Australia; the lowest is 0.6% in Myanmar.
The median across all reporting countries is 5.5%, and the mean is 6.9%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 44.
Over the past decade 103 countries rose and 58 fell. The largest increase was in Djibouti (up 400.0%), and the largest decrease in Libya (down 75.9%).
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height (modeled estimate, %): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 26.4% | 2024 | up 72.5% | rising |
| 2 | Papua New Guinea | 18.5% | 2024 | up 37.0% | rising |
| 3 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 18.3% | 2024 | up 15.8% | rising |
| 4 | Tunisia | 17.5% | 2024 | up 17.4% | rising |
| 5 | Albania | 16.7% | 2024 | down 11.2% | falling |
| 6 | Ukraine | 16.0% | 2024 | down 15.3% | falling |
| 7 | Paraguay | 15.4% | 2024 | up 35.1% | rising |
| 8 | Trinidad and Tobago | 15.0% | 2024 | up 27.1% | rising |
| 9 | Argentina | 14.3% | 2024 | up 28.8% | rising |
| 10 | Cameroon | 13.6% | 2024 | up 72.2% | rising |
| 11 | Greece | 13.5% | 2024 | down 2.2% | rising |
| 11 | Uruguay | 13.5% | 2024 | up 42.1% | rising |
| 13 | Algeria | 13.3% | 2024 | up 3.9% | falling |
| 14 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 13.0% | 2024 | down 20.7% | falling |
| 14 | Barbados | 13.0% | 2024 | up 5.7% | rising |
| 16 | Armenia | 12.9% | 2024 | down 7.9% | falling |
| 17 | South Africa | 12.8% | 2024 | down 3.0% | rising |
| 18 | North Macedonia | 12.3% | 2024 | up 3.4% | falling |
| 18 | Mongolia | 12.3% | 2024 | up 18.3% | rising |
| 20 | Serbia | 12.2% | 2024 | down 7.6% | falling |
| 21 | Botswana | 11.5% | 2024 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 22 | Canada | 11.4% | 2024 | up 1.8% | rising |
| 23 | Egypt | 11.2% | 2024 | down 18.8% | falling |
| 23 | Ireland | 11.2% | 2024 | up 5.7% | rising |
| 23 | Morocco | 11.2% | 2024 | down 3.4% | falling |
| 26 | China | 11.1% | 2024 | up 54.2% | rising |
| 27 | Syria | 11.0% | 2024 | down 24.7% | falling |
| 28 | Brazil | 10.9% | 2024 | up 34.6% | rising |
| 28 | Panama | 10.9% | 2024 | down 3.5% | rising |
| 28 | Seychelles | 10.9% | 2024 | up 5.8% | rising |
| 31 | Cuba | 10.6% | 2024 | up 12.8% | rising |
| 31 | Jordan | 10.6% | 2024 | up 71.0% | rising |
| 33 | Vietnam | 10.5% | 2024 | up 105.9% | rising |
| 34 | Eswatini | 10.2% | 2024 | up 4.1% | falling |
| 35 | Kuwait | 10.1% | 2024 | up 12.2% | rising |
| 35 | Malta | 10.1% | 2024 | up 16.1% | rising |
| 37 | Bolivia | 9.9% | 2024 | up 12.5% | flat |
| 37 | Kyrgyzstan | 9.9% | 2024 | up 41.4% | falling |
| 37 | Thailand | 9.9% | 2024 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 40 | United States | 9.7% | 2024 | up 16.9% | rising |
| 41 | Brunei | 9.5% | 2024 | up 9.2% | rising |
| 41 | Russia | 9.5% | 2024 | up 4.4% | falling |
| 41 | Tonga | 9.5% | 2024 | down 34.0% | falling |
| 44 | Portugal | 9.4% | 2024 | up 10.6% | rising |
| 44 | Samoa | 9.4% | 2024 | up 46.9% | rising |
| 46 | Peru | 9.0% | 2024 | up 11.1% | falling |
| 47 | Oman | 8.8% | 2024 | up 166.7% | volatile |
| 47 | Palestine | 8.8% | 2024 | up 12.8% | rising |
| 49 | Chile | 8.7% | 2024 | down 8.4% | falling |
| 49 | Kazakhstan | 8.7% | 2024 | down 20.9% | falling |
| 51 | Montenegro | 8.6% | 2024 | down 36.3% | falling |
| 51 | Poland | 8.6% | 2024 | up 36.5% | rising |
| 51 | Qatar | 8.6% | 2024 | down 14.0% | falling |
| 54 | El Salvador | 8.5% | 2024 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 55 | Cape Verde | 8.4% | 2024 | up 52.7% | rising |
| 55 | Saudi Arabia | 8.4% | 2024 | down 18.4% | rising |
| 57 | Nauru | 8.2% | 2024 | up 74.5% | rising |
| 58 | Bhutan | 8.0% | 2024 | up 6.7% | rising |
| 59 | Costa Rica | 7.9% | 2024 | up 3.9% | flat |
| 60 | United Kingdom | 7.8% | 2024 | down 1.3% | rising |
| 61 | Turkey | 7.7% | 2024 | down 21.4% | rising |
| 62 | Dominican Republic | 7.5% | 2024 | down 1.3% | flat |
| 62 | Equatorial Guinea | 7.5% | 2024 | down 5.1% | falling |
| 62 | Lesotho | 7.5% | 2024 | up 5.6% | rising |
| 65 | Mexico | 7.4% | 2024 | up 10.4% | flat |
| 66 | Fiji | 7.3% | 2024 | up 5.8% | rising |
| 66 | Venezuela | 7.3% | 2024 | up 9.0% | rising |
| 68 | Colombia | 6.8% | 2024 | up 30.8% | rising |
| 68 | Saint Lucia | 6.8% | 2024 | up 11.5% | rising |
| 70 | Czechia | 6.6% | 2024 | up 29.4% | rising |
| 70 | Latvia | 6.6% | 2024 | up 10.0% | rising |
| 72 | Sao Tome and Principe | 6.4% | 2024 | up 106.5% | rising |
| 73 | Zambia | 6.3% | 2024 | up 8.6% | falling |
| 74 | Solomon Islands | 6.2% | 2024 | up 59.0% | rising |
| 75 | Gabon | 6.1% | 2024 | up 1.7% | falling |
| 75 | Liberia | 6.1% | 2024 | up 96.8% | rising |
| 77 | Namibia | 5.8% | 2024 | up 31.8% | rising |
| 78 | Cambodia | 5.7% | 2024 | up 159.1% | rising |
| 79 | Belize | 5.6% | 2024 | down 30.0% | falling |
| 79 | Estonia | 5.6% | 2024 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 81 | Bulgaria | 5.5% | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Djibouti | 5.5% | 2024 | up 400.0% | volatile |
| 81 | South Korea | 5.5% | 2024 | down 14.1% | falling |
| 81 | Uzbekistan | 5.5% | 2024 | down 1.8% | falling |
| 81 | Vanuatu | 5.5% | 2024 | up 10.0% | rising |
| 86 | Netherlands | 5.4% | 2024 | up 25.6% | rising |
| 86 | Sierra Leone | 5.4% | 2024 | up 116.0% | falling |
| 88 | Congo | 5.3% | 2024 | up 17.8% | falling |
| 88 | Malaysia | 5.3% | 2024 | down 13.1% | flat |
| 90 | Jamaica | 5.1% | 2024 | down 25.0% | falling |
| 90 | Rwanda | 5.1% | 2024 | down 10.5% | falling |
| 92 | Guyana | 5.0% | 2024 | down 23.1% | rising |
| 93 | Belgium | 4.9% | 2024 | up 36.1% | rising |
| 94 | Mauritius | 4.8% | 2024 | up 6.7% | falling |
| 94 | Romania | 4.8% | 2024 | down 17.2% | falling |
| 94 | Turkmenistan | 4.8% | 2024 | up 11.6% | falling |
| 97 | Angola | 4.7% | 2024 | up 51.6% | rising |
| 97 | Ecuador | 4.7% | 2024 | down 34.7% | rising |
| 97 | Finland | 4.7% | 2024 | up 17.5% | rising |
| 97 | Libya | 4.7% | 2024 | down 75.9% | falling |
| 97 | Tanzania | 4.7% | 2024 | up 14.6% | falling |
| 102 | Iraq | 4.6% | 2024 | down 50.5% | falling |
| 102 | Lithuania | 4.6% | 2024 | up 7.0% | flat |
| 102 | Marshall Islands | 4.6% | 2024 | up 15.0% | rising |
| 102 | Tajikistan | 4.6% | 2024 | up 2.2% | falling |
| 106 | Lebanon | 4.5% | 2024 | down 26.2% | falling |
| 107 | Afghanistan | 4.4% | 2024 | down 6.4% | falling |
| 107 | Guinea | 4.4% | 2024 | up 10.0% | falling |
| 107 | Mozambique | 4.4% | 2024 | down 13.7% | falling |
| 107 | Malawi | 4.4% | 2024 | up 10.0% | falling |
| 111 | Kenya | 4.3% | 2024 | down 4.4% | falling |
| 111 | South Sudan | 4.3% | 2024 | down 14.0% | falling |
| 113 | Azerbaijan | 4.2% | 2024 | down 59.6% | falling |
| 113 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 4.2% | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 113 | Honduras | 4.2% | 2024 | down 17.6% | rising |
| 113 | Uganda | 4.2% | 2024 | up 13.5% | falling |
| 117 | Georgia | 4.1% | 2024 | down 63.1% | falling |
| 117 | Moldova | 4.1% | 2024 | down 4.7% | falling |
| 117 | Tuvalu | 4.1% | 2024 | down 18.0% | falling |
| 120 | Zimbabwe | 4.0% | 2024 | up 2.6% | falling |
| 121 | Comoros | 3.9% | 2024 | down 55.2% | falling |
| 121 | Haiti | 3.9% | 2024 | up 11.4% | rising |
| 123 | Singapore | 3.8% | 2024 | up 35.7% | rising |
| 124 | Benin | 3.7% | 2024 | up 105.6% | rising |
| 124 | Guatemala | 3.7% | 2024 | down 9.8% | falling |
| 124 | India | 3.7% | 2024 | up 68.2% | rising |
| 124 | Laos | 3.7% | 2024 | up 54.2% | rising |
| 124 | Suriname | 3.7% | 2024 | down 2.6% | rising |
| 129 | Guinea-Bissau | 3.6% | 2024 | up 71.4% | falling |
| 129 | Togo | 3.6% | 2024 | up 157.1% | rising |
| 131 | Cote d'Ivoire | 3.5% | 2024 | up 59.1% | falling |
| 132 | Belarus | 3.4% | 2024 | down 26.1% | falling |
| 133 | Germany | 3.3% | 2024 | up 3.1% | falling |
| 133 | Ethiopia | 3.3% | 2024 | up 32.0% | falling |
| 133 | Philippines | 3.3% | 2024 | down 2.9% | rising |
| 133 | North Korea | 3.3% | 2024 | up 83.3% | rising |
| 137 | Maldives | 3.0% | 2024 | down 44.4% | falling |
| 138 | Burkina Faso | 2.8% | 2024 | up 180.0% | rising |
| 138 | Eritrea | 2.8% | 2024 | up 47.4% | rising |
| 140 | Gambia | 2.7% | 2024 | up 50.0% | falling |
| 140 | Iran | 2.7% | 2024 | down 27.0% | falling |
| 142 | Indonesia | 2.6% | 2024 | down 69.4% | rising |
| 142 | Niger | 2.6% | 2024 | up 333.3% | volatile |
| 142 | Sudan | 2.6% | 2024 | up 13.0% | falling |
| 145 | Somalia | 2.5% | 2024 | up 8.7% | falling |
| 145 | Chad | 2.5% | 2024 | up 19.0% | falling |
| 147 | Burundi | 2.4% | 2024 | up 26.3% | flat |
| 148 | Central African Republic | 2.3% | 2024 | up 9.5% | volatile |
| 148 | Madagascar | 2.3% | 2024 | up 64.3% | falling |
| 150 | Kiribati | 2.1% | 2024 | up 10.5% | falling |
| 150 | Pakistan | 2.1% | 2024 | down 51.2% | falling |
| 150 | Senegal | 2.1% | 2024 | up 61.5% | falling |
| 153 | Japan | 2.0% | 2024 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 154 | Ghana | 1.8% | 2024 | down 25.0% | falling |
| 154 | Nepal | 1.8% | 2024 | up 28.6% | rising |
| 156 | Yemen | 1.7% | 2024 | down 15.0% | falling |
| 157 | Bangladesh | 1.6% | 2024 | down 11.1% | rising |
| 157 | Mauritania | 1.6% | 2024 | up 14.3% | falling |
| 157 | Nigeria | 1.6% | 2024 | down 15.8% | volatile |
| 160 | Mali | 1.3% | 2024 | up 8.3% | falling |
| 161 | East Timor | 1.2% | 2024 | down 42.9% | falling |
| 162 | Sri Lanka | 0.9% | 2024 | down 25.0% | flat |
| 163 | Myanmar | 0.6% | 2024 | down 60.0% | 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 10.1%
- North America 9.8%
- Latin America & Caribbean 8.8%
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 8.7%
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 8.7%
- Post-demographic dividend 8.6%
- Upper middle income 8.6%
- High income 8.4%
- OECD members 8.1%
- Caribbean Small States 8.1%
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 8.0%
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 7.9%
- East Asia & Pacific 7.8%
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 7.8%
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 7.6%
- Europe & Central Asia 7.5%
- Arab World 7.3%
- Central Europe and the Baltics 6.8%
- IBRD only 6.8%
- Pacific island small states 6.6%
- Small states 6.5%
- Other small states 5.9%
- Middle income 5.5%
- World 5.5%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 5.4%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 5.3%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 5.3%
- IDA & IBRD total 5.2%
- Low & middle income 5.1%
- Early-demographic dividend 4.5%
- Africa Eastern and Southern 4.4%
- Lower middle income 4.0%
- Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 4.0%
- Sub-Saharan Africa 3.8%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 3.8%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 3.8%
- Pre-demographic dividend 3.6%
- Low income 3.5%
- IDA only 3.4%
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 3.4%
About this data
Prevalence of overweight children is the percentage of children 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.