Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of overweight, weight for height was 11.8% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in South Africa, 1994–2017
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
The most recent figure for prevalence of overweight, weight for height in South Africa is 11.8%, measured in 2017.
The figure is down 11.3% on the previous year and down 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of overweight, weight for height in South Africa peaked at 13.3% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 10.3%, in 1994.
That places South Africa 8th out of 93 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top 10%.
Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of children under 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 10.3% | — |
| 1999 | 10.4% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | +25.0% |
| 2015 | 13.3% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 13.3% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 11.8% | -11.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 11.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.6%, 1.6× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 11.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.9%, 4.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.4% | 10.3% | 10.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 13.0% | 13.0% | 13.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.8% | 11.8% | 13.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % 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 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % 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 South Africa?
- Prevalence of overweight, weight for height in South Africa was 11.8% in 2017, 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13.3% in 2015.
- What is the lowest prevalence of overweight, weight for height recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.3% in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of overweight, weight for height?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 93 countries with data for 2017.
- Is prevalence of overweight, weight for height rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.