Prevalence of obesity, female in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Prevalence of obesity, female was 13.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of obesity, female in Sierra Leone, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Measured in % of female population ages 18+.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of obesity, female in Sierra Leone is 13.1%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 40.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, female in Sierra Leone peaked at 13.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 1980.
That places Sierra Leone 170th 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of female population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.7% | — |
| 1981 | 1.8% | +5.3% |
| 1982 | 1.9% | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 2.0% | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 2.1% | +5.6% |
| 1985 | 2.2% | +5.7% |
| 1986 | 2.3% | +5.4% |
| 1987 | 2.5% | +6.0% |
| 1988 | 2.6% | +5.7% |
| 1989 | 2.8% | +5.7% |
| 1990 | 2.9% | +6.2% |
| 1991 | 3.1% | +6.1% |
| 1992 | 3.3% | +5.8% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | +6.4% |
| 1994 | 3.7% | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 4.0% | +6.2% |
| 1996 | 4.2% | +6.6% |
| 1997 | 4.5% | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 4.8% | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 5.1% | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 5.4% | +6.5% |
| 2001 | 5.8% | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 6.1% | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 6.5% | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 6.8% | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 7.1% | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 7.4% | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 7.7% | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 8.0% | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 8.2% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 8.4% | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 8.6% | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 8.8% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 9.1% | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 9.4% | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 9.7% | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 10.0% | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 10.3% | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 10.7% | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 11.1% | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 11.5% | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 11.9% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 12.3% | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 12.7% | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 13.1% | +3.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 13.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 14.1%, 93% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 13.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.1%, 72% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.2% | 1.7% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.9% | 2.9% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.9% | 5.4% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.6% | 8.4% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.3% | 11.5% | 13.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More gender data for Sierra Leone
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 3,446 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.722 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 6,249 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 6,249 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 122,158 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 124,999 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 118,334 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 120,652 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 116,120 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, female in Sierra Leone?
- Prevalence of obesity, female in Sierra Leone was 13.1% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 13.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 1980.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for prevalence of obesity, female?
- Sierra Leone ranks 170th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, female rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.