Prevalence of obesity, female in China
China: Prevalence of obesity, female was 8.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of obesity, female in China, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Measured in % of female population ages 18+.
Analysis
China recorded 8.4% for prevalence of obesity, female in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 63.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, female in China peaked at 8.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1980.
China ranks 186th of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence of obesity, female in China, year by year
| Year | % of female population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.4% | — |
| 1981 | 1.4% | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 1.4% | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 1.5% | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 1.6% | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 1.6% | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 1.7% | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 1.7% | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 1.8% | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 1.9% | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 1.9% | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 2.2% | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 2.3% | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 2.3% | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 2.4% | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 2.5% | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 2.6% | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 2.9% | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 3.2% | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 3.3% | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 3.5% | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 3.8% | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 4.0% | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 4.2% | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 4.4% | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 4.7% | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 4.9% | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 5.1% | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 5.4% | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 6.0% | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 6.3% | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 6.6% | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 6.9% | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 7.3% | +5.1% |
| 2022 | 7.6% | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 8.0% | +5.0% |
| 2024 | 8.4% | +5.1% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 8.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 32.7%, 26% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 8.4% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28.3%, 30% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.3% | 2.7% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3% | 4.2% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.6% | 6.9% | 8.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More gender data for China
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 169,741 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -5.36 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 1.23 million (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 1.23 million (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.4481 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 4.15 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 4.56 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 4.18 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 4.62 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 4.32 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, female in China?
- Prevalence of obesity, female in China was 8.4% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 8.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1980.
- How does China rank for prevalence of obesity, female?
- China ranks 186th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, female rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository, published as part of Prevalence of obesity, female (% of female population ages 18+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Prevalence of obesity adult is the percentage of adults ages 18 and over whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 kg/m² or higher. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height, or the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters.