Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Portugal
Portugal: Mean body mass index (BMI) in women was 25.1 in 2016. ▬ Flat
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Portugal, 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 Portugal is 25.1, measured in 2016.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Portugal peaked at 25.4 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 24.3, in 1975.
Portugal ranks 127th of 190 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 24.3 | — |
| 1976 | 24.3 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 24.3 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 24.4 | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 24.4 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 24.5 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 24.5 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 24.5 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 24.6 | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 24.6 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 24.7 | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 24.7 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 24.8 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 24.8 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 24.8 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 24.9 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 24.9 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 25 | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 25 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 25.1 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 25.1 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 25.2 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 25.2 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 25.3 | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 25.3 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 25.3 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 25.4 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 25.4 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 25.4 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 25.4 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 25.4 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 25.4 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 25.4 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 25.4 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 25.4 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 25.4 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 25.3 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 25.3 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 25.3 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 25.2 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 25.2 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 25.1 | -0.4% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 25.1 is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.4, 95% of the median. (61 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 25.1 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 26.1, 96% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24.34 | 24.3 | 24.4 | 5 |
| 1980s | 24.65 | 24.5 | 24.8 | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.1 | 24.9 | 25.3 | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.39 | 25.3 | 25.4 | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.26 | 25.1 | 25.4 | 7 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 126 Ghana 25.2 compare
- 127 Bosnia and Herzegovina 25.1 compare
- 127 Cameroon 25.1 compare
- 127 Liberia 25.1 compare
- 127 Netherlands 25.1 compare
More gender data for Portugal
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 1,308 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.1109 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 9,009 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 9,009 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate -0.2323 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 41,963 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 44,232 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 42,382 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 44,580 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 42,087 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Portugal?
- Mean body mass index (bmi) in women in Portugal was 25.1 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 25.4 in 2001.
- What is the lowest mean body mass index (bmi) in women recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.3 in 1975.
- How does Portugal rank for mean body mass index (bmi) in women?
- Portugal ranks 127th out of 190 countries with data for 2016.
- Is mean body mass index (bmi) in women rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Portugal 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'.