Prevalence of obesity, female in Malawi
Malawi: Prevalence of obesity, female was 12.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of obesity, female in Malawi, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Measured in % of female population ages 18+.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 12.1% for prevalence of obesity, female in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 59.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, female in Malawi peaked at 12.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 1980.
That places Malawi 172nd 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 Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of female population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.1% | — |
| 1981 | 1.1% | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 1.2% | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 1.2% | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 1.3% | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 1.3% | +4.7% |
| 1986 | 1.4% | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 1.5% | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 1.5% | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 1.6% | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 1.7% | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 1.8% | +5.3% |
| 1992 | 1.9% | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | +5.8% |
| 1994 | 2.1% | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 2.2% | +6.1% |
| 1996 | 2.4% | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 2.9% | +7.3% |
| 2000 | 3.2% | +7.5% |
| 2001 | 3.4% | +7.3% |
| 2002 | 3.6% | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 3.9% | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 4.2% | +7.2% |
| 2005 | 4.5% | +6.9% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 5.1% | +6.5% |
| 2008 | 5.4% | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 5.7% | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 6.1% | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 6.4% | +5.9% |
| 2012 | 6.8% | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 7.2% | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 7.6% | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 8.0% | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 8.4% | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 8.9% | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 9.3% | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 9.8% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 10.2% | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 10.7% | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 11.1% | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 11.6% | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 12.1% | +4.3% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 12.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 14.1%, 86% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 12.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.1%, 67% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | 1.7% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 3.2% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.9% | 6.1% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.1% | 10.2% | 12.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 169 Denmark 13.2% compare
- 170 Sierra Leone 13.1% compare
- 171 Spain 13.0% compare
- 173 South Sudan 12.1% compare
- 174 France 11.7% compare
- 175 Lao People's Democratic Republic 11.7% compare
More gender data for Malawi
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 9,494 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.4 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 15,667 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 15,667 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.13 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 330,369 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 332,767 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 322,764 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 324,764 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 316,113 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, female in Malawi?
- Prevalence of obesity, female in Malawi was 12.1% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 12.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 1980.
- How does Malawi rank for prevalence of obesity, female?
- Malawi ranks 172nd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, female rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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.