Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese was 12.1% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in Zimbabwe, 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 Zimbabwe stood at 12.1%. That is the lowest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and down 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in Zimbabwe peaked at 17.7% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 12.1%, in 2014.
Zimbabwe ranks 41st of 198 countries on this measure, 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 Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 17.7% | — |
| 1976 | 17.5% | -1.1% |
| 1977 | 17.4% | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 17.3% | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 17.1% | -1.2% |
| 1980 | 17.0% | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 16.9% | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 16.8% | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 16.7% | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 16.6% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 16.6% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 16.5% | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 16.4% | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 16.3% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 16.2% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 16.1% | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 16.0% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 15.9% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 15.7% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 15.6% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 15.5% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 15.3% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 15.1% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 15.0% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 14.8% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 14.6% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 14.4% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 14.2% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 14.0% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 13.8% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 13.6% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 13.4% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 13.3% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 13.1% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 13.0% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 12.8% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 12.6% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 12.4% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 12.3% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 12.1% | -1.6% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 12.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.1%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 12.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.9%, 94% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.4% | 17.1% | 17.7% | 5 |
| 1980s | 16.6% | 16.2% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.5% | 14.8% | 16.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.7% | 13.0% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 12.1% | 12.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 38 Mauritania 12.4% compare
- 39 Comoros 12.3% compare
- 39 Philippines 12.3% compare
- 41 Gambia 12.1% compare
- 43 Benin 11.9% compare
- 43 Sierra Leone 11.9% compare
- 43 Togo 11.9% compare
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2024)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 122.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 5 (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 11,077 2010 = 100 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in Zimbabwe?
- Share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese in Zimbabwe was 12.1% 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 17.7% in 1975.
- What is the lowest share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.1% in 2014.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese?
- Zimbabwe ranks 41st out of 198 countries with data for 2014.
- Is share of men defined as underweight, healthy, overweight and obese rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.