Share of adults defined as obese in China
China: Share of adults defined as obese was 9.07 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
9.07
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
175th
of 199 countries
All-time high
9.07
in 2024
All-time low
0.7313
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Share of adults defined as obese in China, 1980–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, share of adults defined as obese in China stood at 9.07. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.4% on the previous year and up 75.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults defined as obese in China peaked at 9.07 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.7313, in 1980.
China ranks 175th of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of adults defined as obese in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.7313 | — |
| 1981 | 0.7521 | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 0.7754 | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 0.8046 | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 0.8377 | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 0.8763 | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 0.9181 | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 0.9641 | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 1.02 | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 1.08 | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 1.14 | +6.1% |
| 1991 | 1.21 | +6.3% |
| 1992 | 1.29 | +6.6% |
| 1993 | 1.38 | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 1.48 | +7.0% |
| 1995 | 1.58 | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 1.69 | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 1.8 | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 1.92 | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 2.04 | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 2.17 | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 2.31 | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 2.45 | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 2.6 | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 2.76 | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 2.93 | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 3.12 | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 3.32 | +6.5% |
| 2008 | 3.54 | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 3.77 | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 4.02 | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 4.28 | +6.5% |
| 2012 | 4.56 | +6.4% |
| 2013 | 4.85 | +6.4% |
| 2014 | 5.16 | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 5.49 | +6.4% |
| 2016 | 5.84 | +6.3% |
| 2017 | 6.2 | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 6.56 | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 6.93 | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 7.33 | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 7.74 | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 8.17 | +5.5% |
| 2023 | 8.61 | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 9.07 | +5.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 9.07 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 28.65, 32% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 9.07 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 24.56, 37% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8753 | 0.7313 | 1.08 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.55 | 1.14 | 2.04 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.9 | 2.17 | 3.77 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.39 | 4.02 | 6.93 | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.18 | 7.33 | 9.07 | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 172 Philippines 9.66 compare
- 173 Guinea 9.37 compare
- 174 Mozambique 9.36 compare
- 176 Laos 8.98 compare
- 177 Central African Republic 8.86 compare
- 178 Myanmar 8.29 compare
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults defined as obese in China?
- Share of adults defined as obese in China was 9.07 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of adults defined as obese recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 9.07 in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of adults defined as obese recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7313 in 1980.
- How does China rank for share of adults defined as obese?
- China ranks 175th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of adults defined as obese rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of adults defined as obese. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).