Which has higher mean body mass index (bmi) in men, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates?

Saudi Arabia, at 28 against 28 in United Arab Emirates as of 2016.

How many years of comparable data are there for Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates?

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.

Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates: Mean body mass index (BMI) in men

Saudi Arabia

in 2016

United Arab Emirates

in 2016

Saudi Arabia rank

19th

United Arab Emirates rank

19th

Mean body mass index (BMI) in men over time

Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates

How they compare

Saudi Arabia currently reports 28 against 28 in United Arab Emirates, a difference of 0.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 42 shared years of data; in 1975 it was United Arab Emirates ahead.

Saudi Arabia ranks 19th and United Arab Emirates ranks 19th of 190 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, Saudi Arabia averaged higher in 2 and United Arab Emirates in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Saudi Arabia	United Arab Emirates	Difference	Ahead
1970s	24.46	24.84	0.38	United Arab Emirates
1980s	25.41	25.46	0.05	United Arab Emirates
1990s	26.42	26.28	0.14	Saudi Arabia
2000s	27.12	27.09	0.03	Saudi Arabia
2010s	27.74	27.79	0.0429	United Arab Emirates

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher mean body mass index (bmi) in men, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates?: Saudi Arabia, at 28 against 28 in United Arab Emirates as of 2016.
What is the difference in mean body mass index (bmi) in men between Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates?: 0, with Saudi Arabia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates?: 42 years are reported by both, from 1975 to 2016.
How do Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates rank globally for mean body mass index (bmi) in men?: Saudi Arabia ranks 19th and United Arab Emirates ranks 19th 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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Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates: 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 09 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/mean-body-mass-index-bmi-in-adult-males/saudi-arabia/united-arab-emirates/

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<a href="https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/mean-body-mass-index-bmi-in-adult-males/saudi-arabia/united-arab-emirates/">Saudi Arabia vs United Arab Emirates: Mean body mass index (BMI) in men</a> — Statizoid

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'.