Prevalence of obesity, female in Malaysia
Malaysia: Prevalence of obesity, female was 28.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of obesity, female in Malaysia, 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 Malaysia stood at 28.9%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 38.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, female in Malaysia peaked at 28.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 1980.
That places Malaysia 81st out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence of obesity, female in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of female population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4.0% | — |
| 1981 | 4.2% | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 4.5% | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 4.8% | +6.3% |
| 1984 | 5.0% | +6.1% |
| 1985 | 5.3% | +6.0% |
| 1986 | 5.7% | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 6.0% | +6.0% |
| 1988 | 6.4% | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 6.7% | +6.0% |
| 1990 | 7.1% | +5.6% |
| 1991 | 7.5% | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 8.0% | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 8.4% | +5.5% |
| 1994 | 8.8% | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 9.3% | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 9.8% | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 10.3% | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 10.8% | +5.1% |
| 1999 | 11.4% | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 11.9% | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 12.5% | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 13.1% | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 13.7% | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 14.3% | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 14.9% | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 15.5% | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 16.1% | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 17.4% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 18.1% | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 18.8% | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 19.4% | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 20.2% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 20.9% | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 21.6% | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 22.4% | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 23.2% | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 23.9% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 24.8% | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 25.6% | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 26.4% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 27.2% | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 28.1% | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 28.9% | +3.0% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 28.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 32.7%, 88% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 28.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28.3%, 1.0× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.3% | 4.0% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.1% | 7.1% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.6% | 11.9% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.3% | 18.1% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.2% | 25.6% | 28.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More gender data for Malaysia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 7,206 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.39 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 30,756 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 30,756 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.62 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 214,187 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 227,793 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 214,543 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 228,149 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 213,108 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, female in Malaysia?
- Prevalence of obesity, female in Malaysia was 28.9% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 28.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 1980.
- How does Malaysia rank for prevalence of obesity, female?
- Malaysia ranks 81st out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, female rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.