Share of overweight men vs. women in India
India: Share of overweight men vs. women was 29.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of overweight men vs. women in India, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 29.9% for share of overweight men vs. women in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 56.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of overweight men vs. women in India peaked at 29.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 1980.
India ranks 154th 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 overweight men vs. women in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.7% | — |
| 1981 | 2.9% | +7.1% |
| 1982 | 3.1% | +7.1% |
| 1983 | 3.3% | +6.9% |
| 1984 | 3.5% | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 3.7% | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 4.0% | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 4.2% | +6.3% |
| 1988 | 4.5% | +6.2% |
| 1989 | 4.7% | +6.1% |
| 1990 | 5.0% | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 5.3% | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 5.6% | +5.8% |
| 1993 | 5.9% | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 6.3% | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 6.6% | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 7.0% | +5.8% |
| 1997 | 7.4% | +6.0% |
| 1998 | 7.9% | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 8.4% | +6.2% |
| 2000 | 8.9% | +6.2% |
| 2001 | 9.5% | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 10.0% | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 10.6% | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 11.3% | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 12.0% | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 12.6% | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 13.4% | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 14.1% | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 14.9% | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 15.7% | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 16.5% | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 17.3% | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 18.2% | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 19.2% | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 20.1% | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 21.2% | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 22.2% | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 23.3% | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 24.4% | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 25.5% | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 26.6% | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 27.7% | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 28.8% | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 29.9% | +3.9% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 29.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.9%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 29.9% is below the median for South Asia, which is 31.3%, 95% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.6% | 2.7% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.6% | 5.0% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.7% | 8.9% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.8% | 15.7% | 24.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.7% | 25.5% | 29.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More gender data for India
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 341,454 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.5667 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 1.18 million (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 1.18 million (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 10.96 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 11.71 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 10.92 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 11.70 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 10.89 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of overweight men vs. women in India?
- Share of overweight men vs. women in India was 29.9% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 29.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of overweight men vs. women recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 1980.
- How does India rank for share of overweight men vs. women?
- India ranks 154th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of overweight men vs. women rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.
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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.