Average non-HDL cholesterol levels by country
The estimated average level of non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol, commonly known as "bad cholesterol". Healthy levels are considered to be under 4mmol/L. Elevated levels of non-HDL cholesterol are a risk factor for chronic complications, including cardiovascular disease, and premature death.
Countries reporting
188
Highest
4.2
Malaysia
Lowest
2.5
Malawi
Median
3.3
Years covered
39
1980–2018
Data points
7,449
What the numbers show
Average non-HDL cholesterol levels is currently reported for 188 countries. The highest value is 4.2 in Malaysia; the lowest is 2.5 in Malawi.
The median across all reporting countries is 3.3, and the mean is 3.3.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 2.
Over the past decade 54 countries rose and 94 fell. The largest increase was in Guyana (up 11.4%), and the largest decrease in Qatar (down 16.7%).
Average non-HDL cholesterol levels: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malaysia | 4.2 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 2 | Philippines | 4 | 2018 | up 8.1% | rising |
| 2 | Thailand | 4 | 2018 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 4 | Guyana | 3.9 | 2018 | up 11.4% | rising |
| 4 | Lebanon | 3.9 | 2018 | down 2.5% | flat |
| 6 | Brunei | 3.8 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 6 | Ecuador | 3.8 | 2018 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 6 | Fiji | 3.8 | 2018 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 6 | Mexico | 3.8 | 2018 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 6 | Singapore | 3.8 | 2018 | unchanged | falling |
| 6 | Tonga | 3.8 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Colombia | 3.7 | 2018 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 12 | Costa Rica | 3.7 | 2018 | down 7.5% | rising |
| 12 | France | 3.7 | 2018 | down 2.6% | falling |
| 12 | Honduras | 3.7 | 2018 | down 5.1% | rising |
| 12 | Croatia | 3.7 | 2018 | down 5.1% | falling |
| 12 | Kuwait | 3.7 | 2018 | down 5.1% | falling |
| 12 | Lithuania | 3.7 | 2018 | down 7.5% | falling |
| 12 | Latvia | 3.7 | 2018 | down 7.5% | falling |
| 12 | Myanmar | 3.7 | 2018 | up 5.7% | rising |
| 12 | Mongolia | 3.7 | 2018 | up 5.7% | flat |
| 12 | Mauritius | 3.7 | 2018 | unchanged | falling |
| 12 | Panama | 3.7 | 2018 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 12 | Solomon Islands | 3.7 | 2018 | up 2.8% | rising |
| 12 | Serbia | 3.7 | 2018 | down 7.5% | falling |
| 12 | Seychelles | 3.7 | 2018 | down 5.1% | flat |
| 12 | Samoa | 3.7 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Cook Islands | 3.7 | 2018 | down 2.6% | falling |
| 30 | Albania | 3.6 | 2018 | down 2.7% | falling |
| 30 | Andorra | 3.6 | 2018 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 30 | Austria | 3.6 | 2018 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 30 | Bulgaria | 3.6 | 2018 | down 7.7% | falling |
| 30 | Dominican Republic | 3.6 | 2018 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 30 | Estonia | 3.6 | 2018 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 30 | Hungary | 3.6 | 2018 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 30 | Indonesia | 3.6 | 2018 | up 9.1% | rising |
| 30 | Jamaica | 3.6 | 2018 | up 5.9% | flat |
| 30 | Jordan | 3.6 | 2018 | down 5.3% | flat |
| 30 | North Macedonia | 3.6 | 2018 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 30 | Montenegro | 3.6 | 2018 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 30 | Papua New Guinea | 3.6 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 30 | Portugal | 3.6 | 2018 | down 2.7% | falling |
| 30 | Romania | 3.6 | 2018 | down 2.7% | falling |
| 30 | Russia | 3.6 | 2018 | unchanged | falling |
| 30 | Slovakia | 3.6 | 2018 | down 2.7% | falling |
| 30 | Slovenia | 3.6 | 2018 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 30 | Ukraine | 3.6 | 2018 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 30 | Uruguay | 3.6 | 2018 | unchanged | falling |
| 30 | Uzbekistan | 3.6 | 2018 | up 9.1% | flat |
| 30 | Vanuatu | 3.6 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 52 | United Arab Emirates | 3.5 | 2018 | down 5.4% | falling |
| 52 | Antigua and Barbuda | 3.5 | 2018 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 52 | Bahamas | 3.5 | 2018 | down 2.8% | falling |
| 52 | Cyprus | 3.5 | 2018 | down 5.4% | falling |
| 52 | Czechia | 3.5 | 2018 | down 5.4% | falling |
| 52 | Dominica | 3.5 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 52 | Finland | 3.5 | 2018 | down 2.8% | falling |
| 52 | Micronesia (country) | 3.5 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 52 | Greece | 3.5 | 2018 | down 2.8% | falling |
| 52 | Grenada | 3.5 | 2018 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 52 | Guatemala | 3.5 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 52 | Haiti | 3.5 | 2018 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 52 | Iraq | 3.5 | 2018 | down 5.4% | falling |
| 52 | Italy | 3.5 | 2018 | down 7.9% | falling |
| 52 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 3.5 | 2018 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 52 | Saint Lucia | 3.5 | 2018 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 52 | Maldives | 3.5 | 2018 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 52 | Norway | 3.5 | 2018 | down 7.9% | falling |
| 52 | Poland | 3.5 | 2018 | down 5.4% | falling |
| 52 | Paraguay | 3.5 | 2018 | down 2.8% | rising |
| 52 | El Salvador | 3.5 | 2018 | down 5.4% | flat |
| 52 | Trinidad and Tobago | 3.5 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 52 | Vietnam | 3.5 | 2018 | up 9.4% | rising |
| 75 | Argentina | 3.4 | 2018 | down 8.1% | falling |
| 75 | Belize | 3.4 | 2018 | up 3.0% | flat |
| 75 | Brazil | 3.4 | 2018 | down 5.6% | falling |
| 75 | Switzerland | 3.4 | 2018 | down 10.5% | falling |
| 75 | Chile | 3.4 | 2018 | down 8.1% | falling |
| 75 | Germany | 3.4 | 2018 | down 10.5% | falling |
| 75 | Israel | 3.4 | 2018 | down 5.6% | falling |
| 75 | Japan | 3.4 | 2018 | down 2.9% | flat |
| 75 | South Korea | 3.4 | 2018 | down 2.9% | flat |
| 75 | Nicaragua | 3.4 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | New Zealand | 3.4 | 2018 | down 10.5% | falling |
| 75 | Oman | 3.4 | 2018 | down 8.1% | flat |
| 75 | Peru | 3.4 | 2018 | down 2.9% | falling |
| 75 | North Korea | 3.4 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | Saudi Arabia | 3.4 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | Sweden | 3.4 | 2018 | down 2.9% | falling |
| 75 | Syria | 3.4 | 2018 | down 5.6% | flat |
| 75 | Tuvalu | 3.4 | 2018 | down 8.1% | flat |
| 75 | Yemen | 3.4 | 2018 | down 2.9% | rising |
| 75 | Niue | 3.4 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 95 | Azerbaijan | 3.3 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 95 | Bahrain | 3.3 | 2018 | down 8.3% | falling |
| 95 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3.3 | 2018 | down 5.7% | falling |
| 95 | Bolivia | 3.3 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 95 | Barbados | 3.3 | 2018 | up 3.1% | flat |
| 95 | China | 3.3 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 95 | Cuba | 3.3 | 2018 | down 2.9% | falling |
| 95 | Algeria | 3.3 | 2018 | down 5.7% | flat |
| 95 | Egypt | 3.3 | 2018 | down 5.7% | flat |
| 95 | Spain | 3.3 | 2018 | down 8.3% | falling |
| 95 | United Kingdom | 3.3 | 2018 | down 10.8% | falling |
| 95 | Ghana | 3.3 | 2018 | up 6.5% | rising |
| 95 | Cambodia | 3.3 | 2018 | up 6.5% | rising |
| 95 | Kiribati | 3.3 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 95 | Laos | 3.3 | 2018 | up 3.1% | rising |
| 95 | Sri Lanka | 3.3 | 2018 | up 3.1% | rising |
| 95 | Marshall Islands | 3.3 | 2018 | down 5.7% | falling |
| 95 | Netherlands | 3.3 | 2018 | down 8.3% | falling |
| 95 | Suriname | 3.3 | 2018 | down 2.9% | falling |
| 95 | Turkmenistan | 3.3 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 95 | Turkey | 3.3 | 2018 | down 5.7% | rising |
| 95 | United States | 3.3 | 2018 | down 5.7% | falling |
| 118 | Armenia | 3.2 | 2018 | unchanged | falling |
| 118 | Australia | 3.2 | 2018 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 118 | Belarus | 3.2 | 2018 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 118 | Canada | 3.2 | 2018 | down 8.6% | falling |
| 118 | Denmark | 3.2 | 2018 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 118 | India | 3.2 | 2018 | down 5.9% | flat |
| 118 | Iran | 3.2 | 2018 | down 13.5% | flat |
| 118 | Kyrgyzstan | 3.2 | 2018 | up 3.2% | flat |
| 118 | Moldova | 3.2 | 2018 | down 5.9% | falling |
| 118 | Nepal | 3.2 | 2018 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 118 | Palau | 3.2 | 2018 | down 8.6% | falling |
| 118 | East Timor | 3.2 | 2018 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 118 | Tanzania | 3.2 | 2018 | up 6.7% | rising |
| 118 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 3.2 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 118 | Venezuela | 3.2 | 2018 | down 13.5% | falling |
| 134 | Afghanistan | 3.1 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 134 | Belgium | 3.1 | 2018 | down 11.4% | falling |
| 134 | Bangladesh | 3.1 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 134 | Georgia | 3.1 | 2018 | up 3.3% | falling |
| 134 | Iceland | 3.1 | 2018 | down 13.9% | falling |
| 134 | Kazakhstan | 3.1 | 2018 | unchanged | falling |
| 134 | Libya | 3.1 | 2018 | down 6.1% | falling |
| 134 | Nauru | 3.1 | 2018 | down 13.9% | falling |
| 134 | Pakistan | 3.1 | 2018 | down 3.1% | flat |
| 134 | Sudan | 3.1 | 2018 | up 6.9% | rising |
| 134 | Somalia | 3.1 | 2018 | up 6.9% | rising |
| 134 | Tunisia | 3.1 | 2018 | down 6.1% | flat |
| 146 | Benin | 3 | 2018 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 146 | Bhutan | 3 | 2018 | down 6.2% | rising |
| 146 | Eritrea | 3 | 2018 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 146 | Mozambique | 3 | 2018 | up 7.1% | rising |
| 146 | Mauritania | 3 | 2018 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 146 | Qatar | 3 | 2018 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 146 | Tajikistan | 3 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 146 | South Africa | 3 | 2018 | down 6.2% | flat |
| 154 | Cameroon | 2.9 | 2018 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 154 | Comoros | 2.9 | 2018 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 154 | Djibouti | 2.9 | 2018 | unchanged | falling |
| 154 | Ethiopia | 2.9 | 2018 | up 7.4% | rising |
| 154 | Guinea | 2.9 | 2018 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 154 | Gambia | 2.9 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 154 | Madagascar | 2.9 | 2018 | up 7.4% | rising |
| 154 | Mali | 2.9 | 2018 | up 7.4% | rising |
| 154 | Senegal | 2.9 | 2018 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 163 | Angola | 2.8 | 2018 | down 3.4% | rising |
| 163 | Burundi | 2.8 | 2018 | up 7.7% | rising |
| 163 | Central African Republic | 2.8 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 163 | Cote d'Ivoire | 2.8 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 163 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 2.8 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 163 | Congo | 2.8 | 2018 | down 3.4% | flat |
| 163 | Cape Verde | 2.8 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 163 | Gabon | 2.8 | 2018 | down 6.7% | flat |
| 163 | Guinea-Bissau | 2.8 | 2018 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 163 | Equatorial Guinea | 2.8 | 2018 | down 3.4% | rising |
| 163 | Kenya | 2.8 | 2018 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 163 | Liberia | 2.8 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 163 | Morocco | 2.8 | 2018 | down 12.5% | flat |
| 163 | Namibia | 2.8 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 163 | Niger | 2.8 | 2018 | up 7.7% | rising |
| 163 | Sierra Leone | 2.8 | 2018 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 163 | Eswatini | 2.8 | 2018 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 163 | Chad | 2.8 | 2018 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 163 | Togo | 2.8 | 2018 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 163 | Uganda | 2.8 | 2018 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 163 | Zimbabwe | 2.8 | 2018 | down 3.4% | rising |
| 184 | Botswana | 2.7 | 2018 | down 3.6% | rising |
| 184 | Sao Tome and Principe | 2.7 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 184 | Zambia | 2.7 | 2018 | unchanged | flat |
| 187 | Burkina Faso | 2.6 | 2018 | up 4.0% | rising |
| 187 | Nigeria | 2.6 | 2018 | up 4.0% | rising |
| 187 | Rwanda | 2.6 | 2018 | up 4.0% | rising |
| 190 | Lesotho | 2.5 | 2018 | unchanged | rising |
| 190 | Malawi | 2.5 | 2018 | up 8.7% | rising |
About this data
The estimated average level of non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol, commonly known as "bad cholesterol". Healthy levels are considered to be under 4mmol/L. Elevated levels of non-HDL cholesterol are a risk factor for chronic complications, including cardiovascular disease, and premature death.