Prevalence of obesity, female in Zambia
Zambia: Prevalence of obesity, female was 17.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of obesity, female in Zambia, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Measured in % of female population ages 18+.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 17.1% for prevalence of obesity, female in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.9% on the previous year and up 51.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, female in Zambia peaked at 17.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1980.
That places Zambia 146th 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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of female population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.4% | — |
| 1981 | 2.5% | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 2.6% | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 2.6% | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 2.8% | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 2.8% | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 3.0% | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 3.2% | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 3.3% | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 3.4% | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 3.6% | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 3.7% | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 3.9% | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 4.0% | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 4.2% | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 4.7% | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 4.9% | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 5.2% | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 5.8% | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 6.1% | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 6.5% | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 6.9% | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 8.0% | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 8.5% | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 8.9% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 9.3% | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 9.8% | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 10.3% | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 10.8% | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 11.3% | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 11.8% | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 12.4% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 12.9% | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 13.5% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 14.1% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 14.7% | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 15.2% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 15.8% | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 16.4% | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 17.1% | +3.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 17.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 23.9%, 71% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 17.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.1%, 94% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.8% | 2.4% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.2% | 3.4% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.1% | 5.5% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.6% | 9.3% | 14.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.9% | 14.7% | 17.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More gender data for Zambia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 9,719 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.61 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 15,306 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 15,306 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 340,219 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 341,639 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 331,557 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 332,331 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 324,712 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, female in Zambia?
- Prevalence of obesity, female in Zambia was 17.1% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO):Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 17.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, female recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1980.
- How does Zambia rank for prevalence of obesity, female?
- Zambia ranks 146th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, female rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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.