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WHO region

Africa

47 countries. 12.7% of adults live with obesity, compared with 2.3% in 1980.

12.7%

of adults live with obesity (2024)

Source: WHO

76.8 million

adults with obesity across the region (estimated)

Sum of country estimates: WHO rate × UN population

Source: WHO; UN WPP 2024

3.5%

of children & teens (5–19) live with obesity (2024)

Source: WHO

Over time

Africa vs the world

What this meansAfrica: 2.3% in 1980, 12.7% in 2024.

0%5%10%15%20%19801990200020102020World 16.2%Africa 12.7%
  • Africa
  • World

Age-standardized; shaded bands = 95% uncertainty.

Source: WHO Global Health Observatory.

Every country in Africa (2024)

  1. Seychelles33.9%
  2. South Africa31.8%
  3. Eswatini29.6%
  4. Mauritania24.1%
  5. Algeria23.6%
  6. Gabon22.7%
  7. Lesotho22.2%
  8. Mauritius21.1%
  9. Botswana19.8%
  10. Equatorial Guinea19.2%
  11. Namibia18.3%
  12. Sao Tome and Principe17.9%
  13. Liberia17.8%
  14. Comoros16.8%
  15. Cabo Verde16.7%
  16. Cameroon16.0%
  17. Zimbabwe14.7%
  18. Ghana14.5%
  19. Nigeria13.7%
  20. Togo13.4%
  21. Mali13.3%
  22. Côte d'Ivoire12.8%
  23. Angola12.7%
  24. Guinea-Bissau12.7%
  25. Gambia12.4%
  26. Benin12.2%
  27. Congo12.2%
  28. Senegal11.6%
  29. Zambia11.6%
  30. Tanzania11.5%
  31. Kenya11.3%
  32. Central African Republic10.9%
  33. Guinea10.6%
  34. Mozambique10.6%
  35. Uganda9.5%
  36. South Sudan8.9%
  37. Sierra Leone8.2%
  38. Malawi8.0%
  39. Burkina Faso7.7%
  40. Chad7.4%
  41. Niger6.8%
  42. DR Congo6.7%
  43. Rwanda5.6%
  44. Burundi5.2%
  45. Madagascar4.5%
  46. Eritrea4.3%
  47. Ethiopia2.9%

Adults 18+, age-standardized. Source: WHO Global Health Observatory.

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