Prevalence of obesity, male in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Prevalence of obesity, male was 14.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of obesity, male in Afghanistan, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization (WHO): Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Measured in % of male population ages 18+.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 14.6% for prevalence of obesity, male in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 59.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, male in Afghanistan peaked at 14.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1980.
Afghanistan ranks 125th 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, male in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of male population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.9% | — |
| 1981 | 0.9% | +6.7% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | +6.3% |
| 1983 | 1.1% | +6.9% |
| 1984 | 1.2% | +7.4% |
| 1985 | 1.2% | +6.9% |
| 1986 | 1.3% | +7.3% |
| 1987 | 1.4% | +6.8% |
| 1988 | 1.5% | +7.7% |
| 1989 | 1.6% | +7.2% |
| 1990 | 1.8% | +7.9% |
| 1991 | 1.9% | +7.3% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | +7.4% |
| 1993 | 2.2% | +7.8% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 2.6% | +8.0% |
| 1996 | 2.8% | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 3.0% | +8.0% |
| 1998 | 3.2% | +7.7% |
| 1999 | 3.5% | +8.1% |
| 2000 | 3.8% | +8.1% |
| 2001 | 4.0% | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | +7.7% |
| 2003 | 4.7% | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | +7.2% |
| 2005 | 5.4% | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 5.8% | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | +6.7% |
| 2008 | 6.6% | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 7.0% | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 7.4% | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 8.3% | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 8.7% | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 9.2% | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 9.7% | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 10.2% | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 10.7% | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 11.2% | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 11.8% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 12.3% | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 12.9% | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 13.4% | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 14.0% | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 14.6% | +4.3% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 14.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.7%, 2.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 14.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.5%, 57% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.2% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.5% | 1.8% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 3.8% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 7.4% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.5% | 12.3% | 14.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More gender data for Afghanistan
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 20,358 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.64 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 29,681 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 29,681 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.43 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 707,563 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 739,025 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 690,872 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 720,642 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 674,248 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, male in Afghanistan?
- Prevalence of obesity, male in Afghanistan was 14.6% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO): Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, male recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 14.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, male recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1980.
- How does Afghanistan rank for prevalence of obesity, male?
- Afghanistan ranks 125th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, male rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (WHO): Global Health Observatory Data Repository, published as part of Prevalence of obesity, male (% of male 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.