Mean body mass index (BMI) in men in United States
United States: Mean body mass index (BMI) in men was 28.8 in 2016. ▲ Rising
Mean body mass index (BMI) in men in United States, 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 United States stood at 28.8. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean body mass index (bmi) in men in United States peaked at 28.8 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 25.2, in 1975.
That places United States 11th out of 190 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Mean body mass index (BMI) in men in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 25.2 | — |
| 1976 | 25.2 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 25.3 | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 25.4 | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 25.4 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 25.5 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 25.6 | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 25.6 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 25.7 | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 25.8 | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 25.9 | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 26 | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 26.1 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 26.2 | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 26.3 | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 26.4 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 26.5 | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 26.6 | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 26.7 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 26.9 | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 27 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 27.1 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 27.2 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 27.4 | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 27.5 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 27.6 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 27.7 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 27.9 | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 28 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 28.1 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 28.2 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 28.3 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 28.4 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 28.4 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 28.5 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 28.6 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 28.6 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 28.7 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 28.7 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 28.8 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 28.8 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 28.8 | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 25.3 | 25.2 | 25.4 | 5 |
| 1980s | 25.87 | 25.5 | 26.3 | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.93 | 26.4 | 27.5 | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.11 | 27.6 | 28.5 | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.71 | 28.6 | 28.8 | 7 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean body mass index (bmi) in men in United States?
- Mean body mass index (bmi) in men in United States was 28.8 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 28.8 in 2014.
- What is the lowest mean body mass index (bmi) in men recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.2 in 1975.
- How does United States rank for mean body mass index (bmi) in men?
- United States ranks 11th out of 190 countries with data for 2016.
- Is mean body mass index (bmi) in men rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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'.