Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Korea
Korea: Prevalence of overweight, weight for height was 6.2% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Korea, 2003–2020
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
Korea recorded 6.2% for prevalence of overweight, weight for height in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 44.2% on the previous year and down 22.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Korea peaked at 9.6% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2017.
That places Korea 36th out of 93 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Korea, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 6.2% | — |
| 2008 | 9.6% | +54.8% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | -16.7% |
| 2014 | 5.1% | -36.3% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -15.7% |
| 2020 | 6.2% | +44.2% |
Korea compared with similar countries
- Korea's 6.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.2%, 76% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Korea's 6.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.9%, 1.3× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.9% | 6.2% | 9.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.8% | 4.3% | 8.0% | 3 |
| 2020s | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Korea
More health data for Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % 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 in Korea?
- Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in Korea was 6.2% 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 recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 2008.
- What is the lowest prevalence of overweight, weight for height recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2017.
- How does Korea rank for prevalence of overweight, weight for height?
- Korea ranks 36th out of 93 countries with data for 2020.
- Is prevalence of overweight, weight for height rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Korea 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 (% of children under 5). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.