Share of overweight men vs. women in China
China: Share of overweight men vs. women was 44.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of overweight men vs. women in China, 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 overweight men vs. women in China is 44.9%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and up 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of overweight men vs. women in China peaked at 44.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.2%, in 1980.
China ranks 132nd of 199 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.
Share of overweight men vs. women in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.2% | — |
| 1981 | 5.6% | +7.7% |
| 1982 | 6.0% | +7.7% |
| 1983 | 6.5% | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 7.0% | +7.7% |
| 1985 | 7.5% | +7.7% |
| 1986 | 8.1% | +7.7% |
| 1987 | 8.7% | +7.7% |
| 1988 | 9.4% | +7.6% |
| 1989 | 10.1% | +7.5% |
| 1990 | 10.8% | +7.4% |
| 1991 | 11.6% | +7.2% |
| 1992 | 12.4% | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 13.2% | +6.9% |
| 1994 | 14.1% | +6.5% |
| 1995 | 15.0% | +6.1% |
| 1996 | 15.8% | +5.8% |
| 1997 | 16.7% | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 17.5% | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 18.4% | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 19.2% | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 20.1% | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 20.9% | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 21.7% | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 22.5% | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 23.4% | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 24.3% | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 25.2% | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 26.1% | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 27.1% | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 28.1% | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 29.1% | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 30.2% | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 31.3% | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 32.5% | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 33.8% | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 35.0% | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 36.3% | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 37.5% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 38.7% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 40.0% | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 41.2% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 42.4% | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 43.7% | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 44.9% | +2.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 44.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 58.6%, 77% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 44.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 53.7%, 84% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.4% | 5.2% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.6% | 10.8% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.1% | 19.2% | 27.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.3% | 28.1% | 38.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.4% | 40.0% | 44.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More gender data for China
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 169,741 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -5.36 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 1.23 million (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 1.23 million (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.4481 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 4.15 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 4.56 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 4.18 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 4.62 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 4.32 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of overweight men vs. women in China?
- Share of overweight men vs. women in China was 44.9% 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 overweight men vs. women recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 44.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of overweight men vs. women recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2% in 1980.
- How does China rank for share of overweight men vs. women?
- China ranks 132nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of overweight men vs. women rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 overweight men vs. women. 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
A person is defined as overweight if they have a body-mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 25. BMI is a person's weight in kilograms divided by his height in meters squared.