Prevalence of obesity, female in North Korea
North Korea: Prevalence of obesity, female was 14.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of obesity, female in North Korea, 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 North Korea stood at 14.7%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 59.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, female in North Korea peaked at 14.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 1980.
That places North Korea 160th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 North Korea, year by year
| Year | % of female population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.8% | — |
| 1981 | 1.9% | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 2.0% | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 2.1% | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 2.2% | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 2.3% | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 2.4% | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 2.5% | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 2.7% | +5.1% |
| 1989 | 2.8% | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 3.0% | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 3.1% | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 3.3% | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 3.4% | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 3.8% | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 3.9% | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 4.1% | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 4.3% | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 4.5% | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 4.7% | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 5.2% | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 5.4% | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 5.7% | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 5.9% | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 6.8% | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 7.2% | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 7.5% | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 8.3% | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 8.7% | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 9.2% | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 9.6% | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 10.1% | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 10.6% | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 11.2% | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 11.7% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 12.2% | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 12.8% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 13.4% | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 14.0% | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 14.7% | +4.4% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 14.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 14.1%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 14.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28.3%, 52% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.7% | 3.0% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.9% | 4.7% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 7.5% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.4% | 12.2% | 14.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 157 Andorra 15.2% compare
- 158 Netherlands 15.2% compare
- 159 Sri Lanka 15.0% compare
- 161 Montenegro 14.6% compare
- 162 Guinea 14.6% compare
- 163 Mozambique 14.5% compare
More gender data for North Korea
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,948 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.7158 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 21,837 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 21,837 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.2686 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 162,142 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 171,689 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 163,466 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 172,928 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 164,613 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, female in North Korea?
- Prevalence of obesity, female in North Korea was 14.7% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 1980.
- How does North Korea rank for prevalence of obesity, female?
- North Korea ranks 160th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, female rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.