Prevalence of obesity, male in Japan
Japan: Prevalence of obesity, male was 8.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of obesity, male in Japan, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization (WHO): Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Measured in % of male population ages 18+.
Analysis
Japan recorded 8.0% for prevalence of obesity, male in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 54.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, male in Japan peaked at 8.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1980.
Japan ranks 153rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence of obesity, male in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of male population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.9% | — |
| 1981 | 0.9% | +5.7% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | +5.4% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | +6.1% |
| 1984 | 1.1% | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 1.2% | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 1.2% | +6.0% |
| 1987 | 1.3% | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 1.4% | +6.2% |
| 1989 | 1.4% | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 1.5% | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 1.6% | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 1.7% | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 1.8% | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 1.9% | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 2.0% | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 2.1% | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 2.2% | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 2.4% | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 2.6% | +5.7% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 2.9% | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 3.2% | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 3.4% | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 4.2% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 4.4% | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 4.6% | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 5.2% | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 5.4% | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 5.9% | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 6.2% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 6.4% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 6.7% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 7.0% | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 7.3% | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 7.7% | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 8.0% | +4.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 8.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 25.6%, 31% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Japan's 8.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 20.5%, 39% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.1% | 0.9% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.0% | 1.5% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 2.6% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3% | 4.4% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.4% | 6.7% | 8.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 150 Equatorial Guinea 8.5% compare
- 151 Cote d'Ivoire 8.2% compare
- 152 Comoros 8.1% compare
- 154 Guinea-Bissau 7.8% compare
- 155 Chad 7.7% compare
- 156 Philippines 7.5% compare
More gender data for Japan
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 12,429 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.96 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 107,155 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 107,155 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate -0.4423 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 367,041 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 384,885 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 368,886 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 386,553 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 378,555 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, male in Japan?
- Prevalence of obesity, male in Japan was 8.0% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO): Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, male recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 8.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, male recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1980.
- How does Japan rank for prevalence of obesity, male?
- Japan ranks 153rd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, male rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.
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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.