Mean body mass index (BMI) in men in South Africa
South Africa: Mean body mass index (BMI) in men was 25 in 2016. ▲ Rising
Mean body mass index (BMI) in men in South Africa, 1975–2016
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2016, mean body mass index (bmi) in men in South Africa stood at 25. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean body mass index (bmi) in men in South Africa peaked at 25 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 22, in 1975.
That places South Africa 120th out of 190 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Mean body mass index (BMI) in men in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 22 | — |
| 1976 | 22.1 | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 22.2 | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 22.3 | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 22.4 | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 22.5 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 22.6 | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 22.6 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 22.7 | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 22.8 | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 22.9 | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 23 | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 23.1 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 23.2 | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 23.3 | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 23.3 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 23.4 | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 23.5 | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 23.6 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 23.6 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 23.7 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 23.8 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 23.9 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 23.9 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 24 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 24.1 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 24.2 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 24.3 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 24.4 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 24.4 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 24.5 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 24.6 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 24.6 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 24.7 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 24.7 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 24.8 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 24.8 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 24.8 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 24.9 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 24.9 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 25 | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22.2 | 22 | 22.4 | 5 |
| 1980s | 22.87 | 22.5 | 23.3 | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.67 | 23.3 | 24 | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.39 | 24.1 | 24.7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.84 | 24.7 | 25 | 7 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean body mass index (bmi) in men in South Africa?
- Mean body mass index (bmi) in men in South Africa was 25 in 2016, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mean body mass index (bmi) in men recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 25 in 2016.
- What is the lowest mean body mass index (bmi) in men recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22 in 1975.
- How does South Africa rank for mean body mass index (bmi) in men?
- South Africa ranks 120th out of 190 countries with data for 2016.
- Is mean body mass index (bmi) in men rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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 Mean body mass index (BMI) in men. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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'.