Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Mean body mass index (BMI) in women was 29.4 in 2016. ▲ Rising
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in United Arab Emirates, 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 United Arab Emirates is 29.4, measured in 2016. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean body mass index (bmi) in women in United Arab Emirates peaked at 29.4 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 26.8, in 1975.
That places United Arab Emirates 20th out of 190 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 26.8 | — |
| 1976 | 26.9 | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 27 | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 27 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 27.1 | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 27.2 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 27.2 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 27.3 | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 27.4 | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 27.4 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 27.5 | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 27.5 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 27.6 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 27.6 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 27.7 | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 27.8 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 27.8 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 27.9 | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 27.9 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 28 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 28 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 28.1 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 28.2 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 28.2 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 28.3 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 28.4 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 28.5 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 28.5 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 28.6 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 28.6 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 28.7 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 28.8 | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 28.8 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 28.9 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 28.9 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 29 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 29.1 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 29.1 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 29.2 | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 29.2 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 29.3 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 29.4 | +0.3% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 29.4 is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.4, 1.1× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 29.4 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 27.05, 1.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26.96 | 26.8 | 27.1 | 5 |
| 1980s | 27.44 | 27.2 | 27.7 | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.02 | 27.8 | 28.3 | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.67 | 28.4 | 28.9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.19 | 29 | 29.4 | 7 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More gender data for United Arab Emirates
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 1,950 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.65 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 10,240 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 10,240 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 56,966 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 58,160 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 58,600 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 57,914 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 59,805 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean body mass index (bmi) in women in United Arab Emirates?
- Mean body mass index (bmi) in women in United Arab Emirates was 29.4 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 29.4 in 2016.
- What is the lowest mean body mass index (bmi) in women recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.8 in 1975.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for mean body mass index (bmi) in women?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 20th out of 190 countries with data for 2016.
- Is mean body mass index (bmi) in women rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates 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'.