Share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese in South Africa
South Africa: Share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese was 3.3% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese in South Africa, 1975–2014
Source: NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (2017) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese in South Africa is 3.3%, measured in 2014. That is the lowest value across all 40 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese in South Africa peaked at 6.7% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 2013.
South Africa ranks 92nd of 198 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 6.7% | — |
| 1976 | 6.6% | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 6.5% | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 6.3% | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 6.2% | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 6.1% | -1.6% |
| 1981 | 6.0% | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 5.9% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 5.8% | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 5.7% | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 5.6% | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 5.5% | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 5.4% | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 5.3% | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 5.2% | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 5.1% | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 5.0% | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 4.9% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 4.8% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 4.8% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 4.7% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 4.6% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 4.5% | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 4.5% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 4.4% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 4.3% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 4.2% | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 4.2% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 4.1% | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 4.0% | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 3.9% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 3.8% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 3.7% | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 3.7% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 3.4% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 3.4% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 3.3% | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.0%, 1.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.9%, 34% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.5% | 6.2% | 6.7% | 5 |
| 1980s | 5.7% | 5.2% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.7% | 4.4% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.0% | 3.6% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 5 |
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 share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese in South Africa?
- Share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese in South Africa was 3.3% in 2014, according to NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (2017) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.7% in 1975.
- What is the lowest share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese?
- South Africa ranks 92nd out of 198 countries with data for 2014.
- Is share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (2017) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women defined as underweight, healthy, overweight or obese. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of women (% of adult population), who are underweight, healthy/normal, overweight or obese based on body mass index (BMI). Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person's weight divided by their height squared. The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as underweight; 18.6 to 25.0 as normal/healthy; 25.1 to 30 as overweight; and >30.0 as obese.