Which has higher mean body mass index (bmi) in men, France or Netherlands?

Netherlands, at 26 against 25.9 in France as of 2016.

How many years of comparable data are there for France and Netherlands?

42 years are reported by both, from 1975 to 2016.

Where does this data come from?

World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Mean body mass index (BMI) in men. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

France vs Netherlands: Mean body mass index (BMI) in men

France

25.9

in 2016

Netherlands

in 2016

France rank

95th

Netherlands rank

94th

Mean body mass index (BMI) in men over time

France
Netherlands

How they compare

Netherlands currently reports 26 against 25.9 in France, a difference of 0.1.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 42 shared years of data; in 1975 it was France ahead.

France ranks 95th and Netherlands ranks 94th of 190 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, France averaged higher in 4 and Netherlands in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade	France	Netherlands	Difference	Ahead
1970s	24.56	23.2	1.36	France
1980s	24.77	23.74	1.03	France
1990s	25.07	24.65	0.42	France
2000s	25.55	25.51	0.04	France
2010s	25.84	25.91	0.0714	Netherlands

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher mean body mass index (bmi) in men, France or Netherlands?: Netherlands, at 26 against 25.9 in France as of 2016.
What is the difference in mean body mass index (bmi) in men between France and Netherlands?: 0.1, with Netherlands ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for France and Netherlands?: 42 years are reported by both, from 1975 to 2016.
How do France and Netherlands rank globally for mean body mass index (bmi) in men?: France ranks 95th and Netherlands ranks 94th of 190 countries.
Where does this data come from?: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Mean body mass index (BMI) in men. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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France vs Netherlands: Mean body mass index (BMI) in men. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/mean-body-mass-index-bmi-in-adult-males/france/netherlands/

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About this data

Indicator: Mean body mass index (BMI) in men
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 190 places, 7,980 data points, 1975–2016
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Body mass index (BMI) is measured as a person's weight in kilograms (kg) divided by his height (in meters), squared. The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as 'underweight'; 18.5 to <25 as 'normal/healthy'; 25.0 to <30 as 'overweight'; and >30.0 as 'obese'.