Prevalence of obesity, male in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Prevalence of obesity, male was 25.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of obesity, male in United Kingdom, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization (WHO): Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Measured in % of male population ages 18+.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 25.9% for prevalence of obesity, male in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of obesity, male in United Kingdom peaked at 25.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 1980.
United Kingdom ranks 51st of 196 countries on this measure, 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of male population ages 18+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.5% | — |
| 1981 | 5.9% | +6.7% |
| 1982 | 6.3% | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 6.7% | +6.7% |
| 1984 | 7.1% | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 7.6% | +6.5% |
| 1986 | 8.1% | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 8.6% | +6.3% |
| 1988 | 9.1% | +6.4% |
| 1989 | 9.7% | +6.3% |
| 1990 | 10.3% | +6.4% |
| 1991 | 11.0% | +6.4% |
| 1992 | 11.7% | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 12.4% | +6.2% |
| 1994 | 13.2% | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 13.9% | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 14.7% | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 15.5% | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 16.3% | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 17.1% | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 17.9% | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 18.8% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 19.5% | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 20.2% | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 20.9% | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 21.5% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 22.1% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 22.6% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 23.0% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 23.4% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 23.7% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 23.9% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 24.1% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 24.3% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 24.5% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 24.7% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 24.9% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 25.0% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 25.2% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 25.3% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 25.4% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 25.5% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 25.6% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 25.7% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 25.9% | +0.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 25.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.6%, 1.0× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 25.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 21.4%, 1.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.5% | 5.5% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.6% | 10.3% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.0% | 17.9% | 23.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.5% | 23.7% | 25.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.6% | 25.4% | 25.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More gender data for United Kingdom
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 11,226 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.9161 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 60,060 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 60,060 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.7034 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 335,907 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 353,938 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 340,922 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 359,075 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 343,706 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of obesity, male in United Kingdom?
- Prevalence of obesity, male in United Kingdom was 25.9% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (WHO): Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of obesity, male recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 25.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence of obesity, male recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 1980.
- How does United Kingdom rank for prevalence of obesity, male?
- United Kingdom ranks 51st out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of obesity, male rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.