Prevalence of obesity, male in Malaysia
Malaysia: Prevalence of obesity, male was 18.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of obesity, male in Malaysia, 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 Malaysia is 18.2%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, male in Malaysia peaked at 18.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1980.
Malaysia ranks 112th 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of male population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.5% | — |
| 1981 | 1.6% | +7.1% |
| 1982 | 1.8% | +6.7% |
| 1983 | 1.9% | +7.4% |
| 1984 | 2.0% | +7.9% |
| 1985 | 2.2% | +7.4% |
| 1986 | 2.4% | +7.8% |
| 1987 | 2.5% | +7.6% |
| 1988 | 2.7% | +7.5% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | +7.7% |
| 1990 | 3.2% | +7.8% |
| 1991 | 3.4% | +7.6% |
| 1992 | 3.7% | +7.9% |
| 1993 | 4.0% | +7.6% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | +7.8% |
| 1995 | 4.6% | +7.7% |
| 1996 | 5.0% | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 5.3% | +7.7% |
| 1998 | 5.8% | +7.9% |
| 1999 | 6.2% | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 6.7% | +7.6% |
| 2001 | 7.2% | +7.3% |
| 2002 | 7.7% | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 8.2% | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 8.8% | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 9.3% | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 9.8% | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 10.4% | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 10.9% | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 11.4% | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 11.9% | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 12.4% | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 12.8% | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 13.2% | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 13.7% | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 14.1% | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 14.6% | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 15.0% | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 15.4% | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 15.9% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 16.3% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 16.8% | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 17.3% | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 17.8% | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 18.2% | +2.8% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 18.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 20.7%, 88% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 18.2% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 20.5%, 89% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.2% | 1.5% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.5% | 3.2% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 6.7% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.9% | 11.9% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.3% | 16.3% | 18.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More gender data for Malaysia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 7,206 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.39 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 30,756 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 30,756 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.62 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 214,187 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 227,793 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 214,543 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 228,149 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 213,108 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, male in Malaysia?
- Prevalence of obesity, male in Malaysia was 18.2% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO): Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, male recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, male recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1980.
- How does Malaysia rank for prevalence of obesity, male?
- Malaysia ranks 112th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, male rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.