Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in South Africa
South Africa: Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese was 6.7% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in South Africa, 1975–2014
Source: NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (2017) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 6.7% for share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in 2014. That is the lowest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.3% on the previous year and down 28.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in South Africa peaked at 14.7% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 2014.
That places South Africa 64th out of 198 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 14.7% | — |
| 1976 | 14.5% | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 14.3% | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 14.1% | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 13.9% | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 13.7% | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 13.5% | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 13.3% | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 13.2% | -0.8% |
| 1984 | 13.0% | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 12.9% | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 12.7% | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 12.5% | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 12.4% | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 12.2% | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 12.0% | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 11.8% | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 11.7% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 11.5% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 11.3% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 11.2% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 11.0% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 10.8% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 10.7% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 10.5% | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 10.3% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 10.1% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 9.9% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 9.7% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 9.4% | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 9.2% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 8.9% | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 8.6% | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 8.3% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 7.5% | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 7.2% | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 7.0% | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 6.7% | -4.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 6.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.0%, 3.4× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 6.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.9%, 52% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14.3% | 13.9% | 14.7% | 5 |
| 1980s | 12.9% | 12.2% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.2% | 10.5% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.2% | 8.0% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 6.7% | 7.8% | 5 |
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 share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in South Africa?
- Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in South Africa was 6.7% in 2014, according to NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (2017) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 1975.
- What is the lowest share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese?
- South Africa ranks 64th out of 198 countries with data for 2014.
- Is share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (2017) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of men (% of adult population), who are underweight, healthy/normal, overweight or obese based on body mass index (BMI). Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person's weight divided by their height squared. The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as underweight; 18.6 to 25.0 as normal/healthy; 25.1 to 30 as overweight; and >30.0 as obese.