Share of women who are obese in North Korea
North Korea: Share of women who are obese was 14.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of women who are obese in North Korea, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of women who are obese in North Korea is 14.7%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 59.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women who are obese in North Korea peaked at 14.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 1980.
North Korea ranks 163rd of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of women who are obese in North Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.8% | — |
| 1981 | 1.9% | +4.7% |
| 1982 | 2.0% | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 2.1% | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 2.2% | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 2.3% | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 2.4% | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 2.6% | +5.1% |
| 1988 | 2.7% | +5.1% |
| 1989 | 2.8% | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 3.0% | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 3.1% | +5.0% |
| 1992 | 3.3% | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 3.4% | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 3.8% | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 3.9% | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 4.1% | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 4.3% | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 4.5% | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 4.7% | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 5.2% | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 5.4% | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 5.7% | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 5.9% | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 6.8% | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 7.2% | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 7.5% | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 8.3% | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 8.7% | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 9.2% | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 9.6% | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 10.1% | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 10.6% | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 11.1% | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 11.7% | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 12.2% | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 12.8% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 13.4% | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 14.0% | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 14.7% | +4.5% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 14.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 14.0%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 14.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28.3%, 52% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.7% | 3.0% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.9% | 4.7% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 7.5% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.4% | 12.2% | 14.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 160 Andorra 15.2% compare
- 161 Netherlands 15.1% compare
- 162 Sri Lanka 15.0% compare
- 164 Montenegro 14.6% compare
- 165 Guinea 14.6% compare
- 166 Mozambique 14.5% compare
More gender data for North Korea
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,948 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.7158 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 21,837 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 21,837 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.2686 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 162,142 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 171,689 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 163,466 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 172,928 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 164,613 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women who are obese in North Korea?
- Share of women who are obese in North Korea was 14.7% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women who are obese recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of women who are obese recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 1980.
- How does North Korea rank for share of women who are obese?
- North Korea ranks 163rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of women who are obese rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women who are obese. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Obesity is defined as having a body-mass index (BMI) equal to, or greater than, 30. BMI is a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in meters) squared.