Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Mean body mass index (BMI) in women was 27 in 2016. ▲ Rising
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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 Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 27, measured in 2016. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean body mass index (bmi) in women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 27 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 23.4, in 1975.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62nd out of 190 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Mean body mass index (BMI) in women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 23.4 | — |
| 1976 | 23.5 | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 23.6 | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 23.7 | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 23.8 | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 23.9 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 24 | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 24.1 | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 24.2 | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 24.3 | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 24.4 | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 24.5 | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 24.6 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 24.7 | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 24.9 | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 25 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 25.1 | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 25.2 | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 25.3 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 25.4 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 25.6 | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 25.7 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 25.8 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 25.9 | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 26 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 26.1 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 26.2 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 26.3 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 26.4 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 26.5 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 26.5 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 26.6 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 26.7 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 26.7 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 26.8 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 26.8 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 26.8 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 26.9 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 26.9 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 26.9 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 27 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 27 | +0.0% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 27 is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.4, 1.0× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 27 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 26.1, 1.0× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 23.6 | 23.4 | 23.8 | 5 |
| 1980s | 24.36 | 23.9 | 24.9 | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.5 | 25 | 26 | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.48 | 26.1 | 26.8 | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.9 | 26.8 | 27 | 7 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More gender data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 11,226 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.9161 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 60,060 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 60,060 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.7034 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 335,907 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 353,938 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 340,922 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 359,075 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 343,706 (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean body mass index (bmi) in women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Mean body mass index (bmi) in women in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 27 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 Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 27 in 2015.
- What is the lowest mean body mass index (bmi) in women recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.4 in 1975.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for mean body mass index (bmi) in women?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 62nd out of 190 countries with data for 2016.
- Is mean body mass index (bmi) in women rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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'.