Prevalence of obesity, female in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Prevalence of obesity, female was 4.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of obesity, female in Ethiopia, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Measured in % of female population ages 18+.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of obesity, female in Ethiopia stood at 4.4%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 5.8% on the previous year and up 72.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, female in Ethiopia peaked at 4.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1980.
Ethiopia ranks 192nd 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of female population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.4% | — |
| 1981 | 0.4% | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 0.5% | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 0.5% | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 0.5% | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 0.5% | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 0.6% | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 0.6% | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 0.6% | +5.3% |
| 1992 | 0.6% | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 0.7% | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 0.7% | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 0.8% | +6.8% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | +6.4% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | +6.0% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | +6.8% |
| 2000 | 1.0% | +7.4% |
| 2001 | 1.1% | +7.9% |
| 2002 | 1.2% | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 1.3% | +7.7% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | +6.9% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | +6.5% |
| 2008 | 1.8% | +6.7% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 2.0% | +6.4% |
| 2011 | 2.1% | +6.5% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | +6.2% |
| 2014 | 2.5% | +6.3% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | +5.6% |
| 2019 | 3.4% | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 3.7% | +5.4% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | +5.4% |
| 2023 | 4.1% | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 4.4% | +5.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 4.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 14.1%, 31% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 4.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.1%, 24% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.4% | 1.0% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.6% | 2.0% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.9% | 3.5% | 4.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More gender data for Ethiopia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 57,452 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.69 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 95,403 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 95,403 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.76 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 1.98 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 2.07 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 1.95 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 2.04 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 1.92 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, female in Ethiopia?
- Prevalence of obesity, female in Ethiopia was 4.4% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1980.
- How does Ethiopia rank for prevalence of obesity, female?
- Ethiopia ranks 192nd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, female rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.
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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.