Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Philippines
Philippines: Mean body mass index (BMI) in women was 23.5 in 2016. ▲ Rising
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Philippines, 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 Philippines is 23.5, measured in 2016. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Philippines peaked at 23.5 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 19.3, in 1975.
That places Philippines 163rd out of 190 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Philippines, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 19.3 | — |
| 1976 | 19.4 | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 19.6 | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 19.7 | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 19.8 | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 20 | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 20.1 | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 20.2 | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 20.4 | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 20.5 | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 20.7 | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 20.8 | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 21 | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 21.2 | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 21.3 | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 21.5 | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 21.6 | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 21.7 | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 21.8 | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 21.9 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 22 | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 22.1 | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 22.2 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 22.3 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 22.3 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 22.4 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 22.5 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 22.5 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 22.6 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 22.6 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 22.7 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 22.8 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 22.8 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 22.9 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 22.9 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 23 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 23.1 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 23.2 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 23.2 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 23.3 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 23.4 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 23.5 | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 19.56 | 19.3 | 19.8 | 5 |
| 1980s | 20.62 | 20 | 21.3 | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.94 | 21.5 | 22.3 | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.67 | 22.4 | 22.9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.24 | 23 | 23.5 | 7 |
Countries ranked near Philippines
- 163 China 23.5 compare
- 163 Sierra Leone 23.5 compare
- 166 Guinea 23.4 compare
- 166 Mozambique 23.4 compare
More gender data for Philippines
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 28,934 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.61 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 92,475 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 92,475 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.52 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 871,613 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 935,850 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 864,989 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 929,411 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 858,439 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Philippines?
- Mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Philippines was 23.5 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 Philippines?
- The highest recorded value was 23.5 in 2016.
- What is the lowest mean body mass index (bmi) in women recorded in Philippines?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.3 in 1975.
- How does Philippines rank for mean body mass index (bmi) in women?
- Philippines ranks 163rd out of 190 countries with data for 2016.
- Is mean body mass index (bmi) in women rising or falling in Philippines?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Philippines 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'.