Share of children who are overweight or obese in Germany
Germany: Share of children who are overweight or obese was 3.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of children who are overweight or obese in Germany, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of children who are overweight or obese in Germany is 3.3%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children who are overweight or obese in Germany peaked at 4.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2016.
Germany ranks 133rd of 163 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of children who are overweight or obese in Germany, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.0% | — |
| 2001 | 4.0% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 3.8% | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 3.8% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3.7% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3.5% | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 3.4% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 3.3% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3.2% | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3.2% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3.1% | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 3.2% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 3.2% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 3.3% | +3.1% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 3.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.6%, 38% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Germany's 3.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.6%, 50% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.7% | 3.4% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 131 Cote d'Ivoire 3.5% compare
- 132 Belarus 3.4% compare
- 133 Ethiopia 3.3% compare
- 133 North Korea 3.3% compare
- 133 Philippines 3.3% compare
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children who are overweight or obese in Germany?
- Share of children who are overweight or obese in Germany was 3.3% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children who are overweight or obese recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 4.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of children who are overweight or obese recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2016.
- How does Germany rank for share of children who are overweight or obese?
- Germany ranks 133rd out of 163 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children who are overweight or obese rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany 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 Share of children who are overweight or obese. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of children under five years old that are defined as overweight or obese. A child is classified as overweight if their weight-for-height is more than two standard deviations from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards.