Share of men who are obese in Zambia
Zambia: Share of men who are obese was 5.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of men who are obese in Zambia, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of men who are obese in Zambia is 5.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 6.0% on the previous year and up 65.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of men who are obese in Zambia peaked at 5.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1980.
That places Zambia 179th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of men who are obese in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.6% | — |
| 1981 | 0.6% | +4.2% |
| 1982 | 0.7% | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 0.7% | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 0.8% | +5.4% |
| 1987 | 0.9% | +5.5% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | +5.7% |
| 1989 | 1.0% | +5.9% |
| 1990 | 1.0% | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 1.1% | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 1.1% | +5.9% |
| 1993 | 1.2% | +5.9% |
| 1994 | 1.3% | +5.9% |
| 1995 | 1.4% | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | +5.9% |
| 1997 | 1.5% | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 1.6% | +5.9% |
| 1999 | 1.7% | +5.8% |
| 2000 | 1.8% | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 1.9% | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 2.2% | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 2.6% | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 2.7% | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 2.8% | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 3.0% | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 3.1% | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 3.2% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 3.4% | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 3.6% | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 4.2% | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 4.7% | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | +5.8% |
| 2023 | 5.2% | +5.9% |
| 2024 | 5.6% | +6.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 5.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.5%, 66% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 5.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.3%, 88% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | 1.0% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 2.9% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 4.4% | 5.6% | 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 who are obese in Zambia?
- Share of men who are obese in Zambia was 5.6% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of men who are obese recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of men who are obese recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1980.
- How does Zambia rank for share of men who are obese?
- Zambia ranks 179th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of men who are obese rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of men who are obese. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Obesity is defined as having a body-mass index (BMI) equal to, or greater than, 30. BMI is a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in meters) squared.