Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Japan
Japan: Mean body mass index (BMI) in women was 21.8 in 2016. ▬ Flat
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Japan, 1975–2016
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Japan is 21.8, measured in 2016. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Japan peaked at 22.1 in 1975 and was at its lowest, 21.8, in 2013.
Japan ranks 185th of 190 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 22.1 | — |
| 1976 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 22.1 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 22 | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 22 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 22 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 22 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 22 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 22 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 22 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 22 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 22 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 22 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 22 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 21.9 | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 21.9 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 21.9 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 21.9 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 21.9 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 21.9 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 21.9 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 21.9 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 21.9 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 21.9 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 21.9 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 21.9 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 21.8 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 21.8 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 21.8 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 21.8 | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22.1 | 22.1 | 22.1 | 5 |
| 1980s | 22.1 | 22.1 | 22.1 | 10 |
| 1990s | 22 | 22 | 22 | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.91 | 21.9 | 22 | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.84 | 21.8 | 21.9 | 7 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More gender data for Japan
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 12,429 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.96 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 107,155 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 107,155 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate -0.4423 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 367,041 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 384,885 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 368,886 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 386,553 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 378,555 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Japan?
- Mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Japan was 21.8 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 22.1 in 1975.
- What is the lowest mean body mass index (bmi) in women recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.8 in 2013.
- How does Japan rank for mean body mass index (bmi) in women?
- Japan ranks 185th out of 190 countries with data for 2016.
- Is mean body mass index (bmi) in women rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan 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
CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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'.