Share of men who are overweight or obese in Zambia
Zambia: Share of men who are overweight or obese was 21.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of men who are overweight or 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 overweight or obese in Zambia is 21.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 38.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of men who are overweight or obese in Zambia peaked at 21.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 1980.
That places Zambia 178th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Share of men who are overweight or obese in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.6% | — |
| 1981 | 5.8% | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 5.9% | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 6.1% | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 6.3% | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 6.5% | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 6.7% | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 6.9% | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 7.2% | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 7.4% | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 7.6% | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 7.9% | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 8.1% | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 8.4% | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 8.7% | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 9.0% | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 9.2% | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 9.5% | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 9.9% | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 10.2% | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 10.5% | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 10.9% | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 11.2% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 11.6% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 11.9% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 12.3% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 12.6% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 13.0% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 13.3% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 13.7% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 14.1% | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 14.4% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 14.9% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 15.3% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 15.7% | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 16.2% | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 16.7% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 17.3% | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 17.9% | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 18.5% | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 19.1% | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 19.7% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 20.4% | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 21.1% | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 21.8% | +3.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 21.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.9%, 73% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 21.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.6%, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.4% | 5.6% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.9% | 7.6% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.1% | 10.5% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.1% | 14.1% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.4% | 19.1% | 21.8% | 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 overweight or obese in Zambia?
- Share of men who are overweight or obese in Zambia was 21.8% 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 overweight or obese recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of men who are overweight or obese recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 1980.
- How does Zambia rank for share of men who are overweight or obese?
- Zambia ranks 178th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of men who are overweight or obese rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 overweight or obese. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
A person is defined as overweight if they have a body-mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 25. BMI is a person's weight in kilograms divided by his height in meters squared.