Prevalence of obesity, female in Somalia
Somalia: Prevalence of obesity, female was 23.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of obesity, female in Somalia, 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 Somalia is 23.3%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 40.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, female in Somalia peaked at 23.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 1980.
Somalia ranks 110th of 196 countries on this measure, 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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | % of female population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.8% | — |
| 1981 | 3.9% | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 4.1% | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 4.2% | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 4.4% | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 4.5% | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 4.7% | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 4.9% | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 5.1% | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 5.3% | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 5.5% | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 5.8% | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 6.0% | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 6.3% | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 6.5% | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 6.8% | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 7.2% | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 7.5% | +5.0% |
| 1998 | 7.9% | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 8.3% | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 8.8% | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 9.2% | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 9.7% | +5.2% |
| 2003 | 10.2% | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 10.8% | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 11.3% | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 11.8% | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 12.4% | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 12.9% | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 13.5% | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 14.1% | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 14.7% | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 15.3% | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 15.9% | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 16.6% | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 17.2% | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 17.9% | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 18.6% | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 19.3% | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 19.9% | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 20.6% | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 21.2% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 21.9% | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 22.6% | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 23.3% | +3.1% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 23.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 14.1%, 1.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 23.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.1%, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.5% | 3.8% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.8% | 5.5% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.1% | 8.8% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.9% | 14.1% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.9% | 20.6% | 23.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More gender data for Somalia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 10,410 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 2.2 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 12,505 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 12,505 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.67 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 379,876 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 393,718 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 364,586 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 376,417 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 351,742 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, female in Somalia?
- Prevalence of obesity, female in Somalia was 23.3% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 1980.
- How does Somalia rank for prevalence of obesity, female?
- Somalia ranks 110th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, female rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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.