Average non-HDL cholesterol levels in China
China: Average non-HDL cholesterol levels was 3.3 in 2018. ▲ Rising
Average non-HDL cholesterol levels in China, 1980–2018
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 3.3 for average non-hdl cholesterol levels in 2018. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, average non-hdl cholesterol levels in China peaked at 3.3 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2.8, in 1980.
That places China 95th out of 191 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Average non-HDL cholesterol levels in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.8 | — |
| 1981 | 2.8 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 2.8 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 2.8 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 2.9 | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 2.9 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 2.9 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 2.9 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 3 | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 3.1 | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 3.1 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 3.1 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 3.1 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 3.1 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 3.1 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 3.1 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3.1 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3.2 | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 3.2 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 3.2 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3.2 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 3.2 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 3.2 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3.3 | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 3.3 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 3.3 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3.3 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3.3 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3.3 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3.3 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3.3 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3.3 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3.3 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3.3 | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 3.3 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.5, 94% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 3.3 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.5, 94% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.88 | 2.8 | 3 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.06 | 3 | 3.1 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 9 |
Countries ranked near China
- 95 Algeria 3.3 compare
- 95 Azerbaijan 3.3 compare
- 95 Bahrain 3.3 compare
- 95 Barbados 3.3 compare
- 95 Bolivia 3.3 compare
- 95 Bosnia and Herzegovina 3.3 compare
- 95 Cambodia 3.3 compare
- 95 Cuba 3.3 compare
- 95 Egypt 3.3 compare
- 95 Ghana 3.3 compare
- 95 Kiribati 3.3 compare
- 95 Laos 3.3 compare
- 95 Luxembourg 3.3 compare
- 95 Marshall Islands 3.3 compare
- 95 Netherlands 3.3 compare
- 95 Spain 3.3 compare
- 95 Sri Lanka 3.3 compare
- 95 Suriname 3.3 compare
- 95 Turkey 3.3 compare
- 95 Turkmenistan 3.3 compare
- 95 United Kingdom 3.3 compare
- 95 United States 3.3 compare
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average non-hdl cholesterol levels in China?
- Average non-hdl cholesterol levels in China was 3.3 in 2018, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average non-hdl cholesterol levels recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 3.3 in 2008.
- What is the lowest average non-hdl cholesterol levels recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8 in 1980.
- How does China rank for average non-hdl cholesterol levels?
- China ranks 95th out of 191 countries with data for 2018.
- Is average non-hdl cholesterol levels rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average non-HDL cholesterol levels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.