Share of adults defined as obese in Ghana

Ghana: Share of adults defined as obese was 13.8 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
13.8
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
147th
of 199 countries
All-time high
13.8
in 2024
All-time low
1.36
in 1980
Years of data
45
1980–2024

Share of adults defined as obese in Ghana, 1980–2024

2.557.51012.5151980200220241980: 1.41981: 1.41982: 1.51983: 1.61984: 1.71985: 1.81986: 21987: 2.11988: 2.21989: 2.41990: 2.61991: 2.71992: 2.91993: 3.11994: 3.41995: 3.61996: 3.91997: 4.11998: 4.41999: 4.82000: 5.12001: 5.52002: 5.82003: 6.22004: 6.62005: 6.92006: 7.32007: 7.62008: 82009: 8.32010: 8.52011: 8.82012: 9.12013: 9.42014: 9.72015: 102016: 10.42017: 10.82018: 11.22019: 11.62020: 122021: 12.42022: 12.92023: 13.32024: 13.8

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

Ghana recorded 13.8 for share of adults defined as obese in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.

The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 42.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of adults defined as obese in Ghana peaked at 13.8 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.36, in 1980.

That places Ghana 147th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of adults defined as obese in Ghana, year by year

Annual values for Share of adults defined as obese in Ghana, 1980 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1980 1.36 —
1981 1.44 +6.2%
1982 1.53 +6.2%
1983 1.62 +6.3%
1984 1.73 +6.5%
1985 1.85 +6.7%
1986 1.97 +6.7%
1987 2.1 +6.7%
1988 2.24 +6.7%
1989 2.4 +6.8%
1990 2.56 +6.9%
1991 2.74 +6.9%
1992 2.93 +6.9%
1993 3.13 +7.0%
1994 3.36 +7.2%
1995 3.6 +7.2%
1996 3.86 +7.2%
1997 4.14 +7.2%
1998 4.44 +7.4%
1999 4.78 +7.5%
2000 5.13 +7.3%
2001 5.48 +6.8%
2002 5.84 +6.6%
2003 6.21 +6.4%
2004 6.58 +6.0%
2005 6.94 +5.5%
2006 7.29 +5.0%
2007 7.63 +4.6%
2008 7.95 +4.2%
2009 8.25 +3.8%
2010 8.54 +3.4%
2011 8.81 +3.2%
2012 9.08 +3.1%
2013 9.38 +3.2%
2014 9.7 +3.4%
2015 10.04 +3.5%
2016 10.4 +3.6%
2017 10.78 +3.6%
2018 11.17 +3.7%
2019 11.59 +3.7%
2020 12.01 +3.7%
2021 12.45 +3.6%
2022 12.89 +3.6%
2023 13.34 +3.5%
2024 13.8 +3.4%

Ghana compared with similar countries

  • Ghana's 13.8 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.59, 95% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
  • Ghana's 13.8 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.56, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.82 1.36 2.4 10
1990s 3.55 2.56 4.78 10
2000s 6.73 5.13 8.25 10
2010s 9.95 8.54 11.59 10
2020s 12.9 12.01 13.8 5

Countries ranked near Ghana

  1. 144 Thailand 15.51 compare
  2. 145 Denmark 15.23 compare
  3. 146 Cameroon 14.59 compare
  4. 148 Zimbabwe 13.14 compare
  5. 149 Bhutan 13.04 compare
  6. 150 Somalia 13.02 compare

See the full ranking of 199 places →

More reference data data for Ghana

All data for Ghana →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of adults defined as obese in Ghana?
Share of adults defined as obese in Ghana was 13.8 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of adults defined as obese recorded in Ghana?
The highest recorded value was 13.8 in 2024.
What is the lowest share of adults defined as obese recorded in Ghana?
The lowest recorded value was 1.36 in 1980.
How does Ghana rank for share of adults defined as obese?
Ghana ranks 147th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of adults defined as obese rising or falling in Ghana?
Over the last ten years it is up 42.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ghana 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.

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Share of adults defined as obese in Ghana. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 15 November 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-adults-defined-as-obese/ghana/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of adults defined as obese
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
199 places, 8,955 data points, 1980–2024
Last refreshed