Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in Zambia
Zambia: Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese was 13.9% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in Zambia, 1975–2014
Source: NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (2017) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2014, share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in Zambia stood at 13.9%. That is the lowest value across all 40 years on record.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in Zambia peaked at 19.4% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 13.9%, in 2014.
That places Zambia 27th out of 198 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 19.4% | — |
| 1976 | 19.3% | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 19.3% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 19.2% | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 19.1% | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 19.1% | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 19.0% | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 19.0% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 19.0% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 18.9% | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 18.9% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 18.8% | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 18.8% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 18.7% | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 18.6% | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 18.5% | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 18.4% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 18.3% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 18.1% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 18.0% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 17.8% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 17.7% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 17.6% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 17.4% | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 17.3% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 17.1% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 16.9% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 16.8% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 16.6% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 16.4% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 16.2% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 15.9% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 15.7% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 15.5% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 15.2% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 15.0% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 14.7% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 14.4% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 14.2% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 13.9% | -2.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 13.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.1%, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 13.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.9%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 19.3% | 19.1% | 19.4% | 5 |
| 1980s | 18.9% | 18.6% | 19.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.9% | 17.3% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.2% | 15.2% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.4% | 13.9% | 15.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in Zambia?
- Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in Zambia was 13.9% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 19.4% in 1975.
- What is the lowest share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.9% in 2014.
- How does Zambia rank for share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese?
- Zambia ranks 27th out of 198 countries with data for 2014.
- Is share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.
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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.