Prevalence of obesity, male in Iran
Iran: Prevalence of obesity, male was 18.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of obesity, male in Iran, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization (WHO): Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Measured in % of male population ages 18+.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of obesity, male in Iran is 18.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, male in Iran peaked at 18.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 1980.
That places Iran 105th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Prevalence of obesity, male in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of male population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.8% | — |
| 1981 | 3.9% | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 4.1% | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 4.3% | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 4.4% | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 4.6% | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 4.8% | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 5.1% | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 5.3% | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 5.5% | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 5.8% | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 6.0% | +4.5% |
| 1992 | 6.3% | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 6.6% | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 6.9% | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 7.2% | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 7.5% | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 7.8% | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 8.2% | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 8.5% | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 8.9% | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 9.3% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 9.7% | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 10.1% | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 10.6% | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 11.0% | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 11.4% | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 11.8% | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 12.3% | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 12.7% | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 13.2% | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 13.6% | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 14.0% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 14.5% | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 14.9% | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 15.4% | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 16.0% | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 16.4% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 16.8% | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 17.2% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 17.5% | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 17.8% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 18.1% | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 18.5% | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 18.8% | +1.8% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 18.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 20.7%, 91% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 18.8% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.5%, 74% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.6% | 3.8% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.1% | 5.8% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.8% | 8.9% | 12.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.2% | 13.2% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.1% | 17.5% | 18.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More gender data for Iran
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 18,410 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -2.73 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 77,077 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 77,077 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 552,656 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 580,401 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 565,065 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 593,686 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 576,359 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, male in Iran?
- Prevalence of obesity, male in Iran was 18.8% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO): Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, male recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 18.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, male recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 1980.
- How does Iran rank for prevalence of obesity, male?
- Iran ranks 105th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, male rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran 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.