Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in France
France: Mean body mass index (BMI) in women was 24.2 in 2016. ▬ Flat
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in France, 1975–2016
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
France recorded 24.2 for mean body mass index (bmi) in women in 2016.
That represents a change of down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean body mass index (bmi) in women in France peaked at 24.4 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 24.1, in 1975.
That places France 146th out of 190 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 24.1 | — |
| 1976 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 24.1 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 24.2 | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 24.2 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 24.2 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 24.2 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 24.2 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 24.2 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 24.2 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 24.3 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 24.3 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 24.3 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 24.3 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 24.3 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 24.4 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 24.4 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 24.4 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 24.4 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 24.4 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 24.4 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 24.4 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 24.4 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 24.4 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 24.4 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 24.3 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 24.3 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 24.3 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 24.3 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 24.2 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 24.2 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 24.2 | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24.1 | 24.1 | 24.1 | 5 |
| 1980s | 24.12 | 24.1 | 24.2 | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.25 | 24.2 | 24.3 | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.4 | 24.4 | 24.4 | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.26 | 24.2 | 24.3 | 7 |
Countries ranked near France
More gender data for France
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 10,528 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.9027 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 58,516 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 58,516 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.327 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 310,512 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 325,288 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 312,212 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 326,662 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 325,263 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean body mass index (bmi) in women in France?
- Mean body mass index (bmi) in women in France was 24.2 in 2016, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mean body mass index (bmi) in women recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4 in 2000.
- What is the lowest mean body mass index (bmi) in women recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.1 in 1975.
- How does France rank for mean body mass index (bmi) in women?
- France ranks 146th out of 190 countries with data for 2016.
- Is mean body mass index (bmi) in women rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this France 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 Mean body mass index (BMI) in women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Body mass index (BMI) is measured as a person's weight in kilograms (kg) divided by her height (in meters), squared. The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as 'underweight'; 18.5 to <25 as 'normal/healthy'; 25.0 to <30 as 'overweight'; and >30.0 as 'obese'.