New research suggests there are about 676 million adult obese people in the World. When including for adults, children, and adolescents the number is approximately 800 million.
Our research suggests there are nearly 650 million obese adults on the planet, as defined as a body mass index (BMI) over 30. There are also about 125 million obese children and adolescents in the entire world according to a BMI over 30.
The majority of the obesity on the planet resides in a few countries, in fact, the top 10 countries contribute half the entire world’s obesity.
Study Facts:
- World Population: 8,064,851,695
- World Obesity Adult Population : 676,000,000
Top 10 Most Obese Countries (October 2022)
- United States – 77,020,887
- China – 66,469,734
- India – 46,914,668
- Brazil – 29,093,160
- Mexico – 24,205,842
- Russia – 23,562,164
- Egypt – 21,670,640
- Turkey – 17,008,680
- Nigeria – 16,241,109
- Iran – 15,614,264
Obesity’s Rise in all Countries
Today no one country is immune to obesity. For the past 30 years, obesity has skyrocketed across western countries and small countries. Today in economic rich countries, like the United States, United Kingdom, or Australia, there are fewer countries still touched by obesity including Venezuela, Colombia, Egypt, and more.
Highest Regions for Obesity
- Oceania Islands – The highest propensity of obesity can be seen in Oceania nations such as the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Nauru, Palau, Niue, and the Marshall Islands. It should be noted that even though the high rates of obesity, these countries have significantly less population.
- Middle East – The second highest region is the middle east, with as much as 75% of the population being obese or overweight. Countries include Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, and Kuwait.
- South America – South America continent is home of highly obese countries in terms of absolute numbers including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Chile
Research by the World Health Organization suggest there are an additional 124 million children and adolescents worldwide. While just under 1% of children and adolescents aged 5-19 were obese in 1975, more 124 million children and adolescents (6% of girls and 8% of boys) were obese in 2016.
Most Obese Countries by Percentage:
- Cook Islands – 50.80%
- Palau- 47.60%
- Nauru- 45.60%
- Samoa- 43.40%
- Tonga- 43.30%
- Niue- 43.20%
- Marshall Islands – 42.80%
- Qatar- 42.30%
- Kiribati- 40.60%
- Tuvalu- 40.30%
- Kuwait- 39.70%
- United Arab Emirates- 37.20%
- Federated States of Micronesia – 37.20%
- Fiji- 36.40%
- Bahamas – 36.20%
- Vanuatu- 35.40%
- Bahrain – 35.10%
- Saudi Arabia – 34.70%
- United States of America – 33.70%
- Libya – 33.10%
Least Obese Countries by Population:
- Timor Leste – 2.20%
- North Korea – 2.40%
- Burundi – 2.60%
- Myanmar – 2.90%
- Afghanistan – 2.90%
- Cambodia – 3.20%
- Japan – 3.30%
- Nepal – 3.30%
- Laos – 3.50%
- Bangladesh – 3.60%
Rank of Countries by Obesity:
Find out which country has the highest rate of obesity by population or by percentage.
| Rank | Country | 2022 Population | Adult Population | Obese | Percentage Obese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cook Islands | 17,380 | 11,742 | 5,965 | 50.80% |
| 2 | Palau | 18,055 | 12,198 | 5,806 | 47.60% |
| 3 | Nauru | 12,668 | 8,559 | 3,903 | 45.60% |
| 4 | Samoa | 222,382 | 150,241 | 65,205 | 43.40% |
| 5 | Tonga | 106,858 | 72,193 | 31,260 | 43.30% |
| 6 | Niue | 1,618 | 1,093 | 472 | 43.20% |
| 7 | Marshall Islands | 41,569 | 28,084 | 12,020 | 42.80% |
| 8 | Qatar | 2,695,122 | 1,820,824 | 770,209 | 42.30% |
| 9 | Kiribati | 131,232 | 88,660 | 35,996 | 40.60% |
| 10 | Tuvalu | 11,312 | 7,642 | 3,080 | 40.30% |
| 11 | Kuwait | 4,268,873 | 2,884,051 | 1,144,968 | 39.70% |
| 12 | Micronesia | 114,164 | 77,129 | 28,692 | 37.20% |
| 13 | United Arab Emirates | 9,441,129 | 6,378,427 | 2,372,775 | 37.20% |
| 14 | Puerto Rico | 3,252,407 | 2,197,326 | 808,616 | 36.80% |
| 15 | Fiji | 929,766 | 628,150 | 228,647 | 36.40% |
| 16 | Bahamas | 409,984 | 276,985 | 100,269 | 36.20% |
| 17 | French Guiana | 304,557 | 205,759 | 74,485 | 36.20% |
| 18 | Vanuatu | 326,740 | 220,746 | 78,144 | 35.40% |
| 19 | Bahrain | 1,472,233 | 994,641 | 349,119 | 35.10% |
| 20 | Saudi Arabia | 36,408,820 | 24,597,799 | 8,535,436 | 34.70% |
| 21 | United States | 338,289,857 | 228,548,627 | 77,020,887 | 33.70% |
| 22 | Libya | 6,812,341 | 4,602,418 | 1,523,400 | 33.10% |
| 23 | Lebanon | 5,489,739 | 3,708,868 | 1,183,129 | 31.90% |
| 24 | Barbados | 281,635 | 190,273 | 59,555 | 31.30% |
| 25 | Trinidad and Tobago | 1,531,044 | 1,034,373 | 321,690 | 31.10% |
| 26 | Antigua and Barbuda | 93,763 | 63,346 | 19,574 | 30.90% |
| 27 | Oman | 4,576,298 | 3,091,747 | 955,350 | 30.90% |
| 28 | Jordan | 11,285,869 | 7,624,733 | 2,325,544 | 30.50% |
| 29 | Andorra | 79,824 | 53,929 | 15,909 | 29.50% |
| 30 | Turkey | 85,341,241 | 57,656,542 | 17,008,680 | 29.50% |
| 31 | New Zealand | 5,185,288 | 3,503,181 | 1,022,929 | 29.20% |
| 32 | Egypt | 110,990,103 | 74,984,914 | 21,670,640 | 28.90% |
| 33 | Australia | 26,177,413 | 17,685,460 | 5,058,042 | 28.60% |
| 34 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 47,657 | 32,197 | 9,112 | 28.30% |
| 35 | Mexico | 127,504,125 | 86,141,787 | 24,205,842 | 28.10% |
| 36 | United Kingdom | 67,508,936 | 45,609,037 | 12,816,139 | 28.10% |
| 37 | Canada | 38,454,327 | 25,979,743 | 7,274,328 | 28.00% |
| 38 | England | 57,367,811 | 38,757,693 | 10,852,154 | 28.00% |
| 39 | Northern Ireland | 1,914,040 | 1,293,125 | 362,075 | 28.00% |
| 40 | Scotland | 5,504,651 | 3,718,942 | 1,041,304 | 28.00% |
| 41 | Vatican City | 510 | 345 | 96 | 28.00% |
| 42 | Wales | 3,193,665 | 2,157,640 | 604,139 | 28.00% |
| 43 | Papua New Guinea | 10,142,619 | 6,852,353 | 1,911,807 | 27.90% |
| 44 | Chile | 19,603,733 | 13,244,282 | 3,681,910 | 27.80% |
| 45 | Solomon Islands | 724,273 | 489,319 | 135,541 | 27.70% |
| 46 | Jamaica | 2,827,377 | 1,910,176 | 519,568 | 27.20% |
| 47 | Tunisia | 12,356,117 | 8,347,793 | 2,262,252 | 27.10% |
| 48 | Saint Lucia | 179,857 | 121,511 | 32,687 | 26.90% |
| 49 | Czech Republic | 10,493,986 | 7,089,737 | 1,900,050 | 26.80% |
| 50 | Palestine | 5,250,072 | 3,546,949 | 950,582 | 26.80% |
| 51 | Panama | 4,408,581 | 2,978,437 | 798,221 | 26.80% |
| 52 | South Africa | 59,893,885 | 40,464,309 | 10,844,435 | 26.80% |
| 53 | Uruguay | 3,422,794 | 2,312,440 | 617,421 | 26.70% |
| 54 | Malta | 533,286 | 360,288 | 95,837 | 26.60% |
| 55 | Mayotte | 326,101 | 220,314 | 58,603 | 26.60% |
| 56 | Argentina | 45,510,318 | 30,746,771 | 8,086,401 | 26.30% |
| 57 | Seychelles | 107,118 | 72,369 | 19,033 | 26.30% |
| 58 | Grenada | 125,438 | 84,746 | 22,203 | 26.20% |
| 59 | Guadeloupe | 395,752 | 267,370 | 70,051 | 26.20% |
| 60 | Ivory Coast | 28,160,542 | 19,025,262 | 4,984,619 | 26.20% |
| 61 | Kosovo | 1,802,250 | 1,217,600 | 319,011 | 26.20% |
| 62 | Iran | 88,550,570 | 59,824,765 | 15,614,264 | 26.10% |
| 63 | Suriname | 618,040 | 417,548 | 108,980 | 26.10% |
| 64 | Lithuania | 2,750,055 | 1,857,937 | 481,206 | 25.90% |
| 65 | Dominica | 72,737 | 49,141 | 12,678 | 25.80% |
| 66 | Slovakia | 5,643,453 | 3,812,717 | 979,868 | 25.70% |
| 67 | Ireland | 5,023,109 | 3,393,612 | 868,765 | 25.60% |
| 68 | Israel | 9,038,309 | 6,106,282 | 1,544,889 | 25.30% |
| 69 | Cuba | 11,212,191 | 7,574,956 | 1,908,889 | 25.20% |
| 70 | Poland | 39,857,145 | 26,927,487 | 6,785,727 | 25.20% |
| 71 | Slovenia | 2,119,844 | 1,432,167 | 359,474 | 25.10% |
| 72 | Algeria | 44,903,225 | 30,336,619 | 7,523,481 | 24.80% |
| 73 | Venezuela | 28,301,696 | 19,120,626 | 4,741,915 | 24.80% |
| 74 | Costa Rica | 5,180,829 | 3,500,168 | 850,541 | 24.30% |
| 75 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 103,948 | 70,227 | 17,065 | 24.30% |
| 76 | San Marino | 33,660 | 22,741 | 5,526 | 24.30% |
| 77 | Russia | 144,713,314 | 97,768,315 | 23,562,164 | 24.10% |
| 78 | Hungary | 9,967,308 | 6,733,913 | 1,616,139 | 24.00% |
| 79 | Dominican Republic | 11,228,821 | 7,586,191 | 1,813,100 | 23.90% |
| 80 | France | 64,626,628 | 43,661,750 | 10,435,158 | 23.90% |
| 81 | Cyprus | 1,251,488 | 845,505 | 201,230 | 23.80% |
| 82 | Iraq | 44,496,122 | 30,061,580 | 7,154,656 | 23.80% |
| 83 | Latvia | 1,850,651 | 1,250,300 | 296,321 | 23.70% |
| 84 | Spain | 47,558,630 | 32,130,610 | 7,614,955 | 23.70% |
| 85 | Syria | 22,125,249 | 14,947,818 | 3,512,737 | 23.50% |
| 86 | Belarus | 9,534,954 | 6,441,815 | 1,507,385 | 23.40% |
| 87 | Kazakhstan | 19,397,998 | 13,105,287 | 3,066,637 | 23.40% |
| 88 | Croatia | 4,030,358 | 2,722,910 | 634,438 | 23.30% |
| 89 | Bulgaria | 6,781,953 | 4,581,887 | 1,062,998 | 23.20% |
| 90 | Luxembourg | 647,599 | 437,518 | 101,067 | 23.10% |
| 91 | Norway | 5,434,319 | 3,671,426 | 848,099 | 23.10% |
| 92 | Greece | 10,384,971 | 7,016,086 | 1,606,684 | 22.90% |
| 93 | Guyana | 808,726 | 546,375 | 125,120 | 22.90% |
| 94 | Iceland | 372,899 | 251,931 | 57,440 | 22.80% |
| 95 | Estonia | 1,326,062 | 895,887 | 202,471 | 22.60% |
| 96 | Azerbaijan | 10,358,074 | 6,997,915 | 1,574,531 | 22.50% |
| 97 | Belize | 405,272 | 273,802 | 61,605 | 22.50% |
| 98 | Botswana | 2,630,296 | 1,777,028 | 398,054 | 22.40% |
| 99 | Morocco | 37,457,971 | 25,306,605 | 5,643,373 | 22.30% |
| 100 | Liechtenstein | 39,327 | 26,569 | 5,898 | 22.20% |
| 101 | El Salvador | 6,336,392 | 4,280,866 | 933,229 | 21.80% |
| 102 | Martinique | 367,507 | 248,288 | 54,127 | 21.80% |
| 103 | Romania | 19,659,267 | 13,281,801 | 2,882,151 | 21.70% |
| 104 | Peru | 34,049,588 | 23,003,902 | 4,853,823 | 21.10% |
| 105 | Colombia | 51,874,024 | 35,046,091 | 7,359,679 | 21.00% |
| 106 | Italy | 59,037,474 | 39,885,717 | 8,376,001 | 21.00% |
| 107 | Georgia | 3,744,385 | 2,529,707 | 526,179 | 20.80% |
| 108 | Finland | 5,540,745 | 3,743,327 | 771,125 | 20.60% |
| 109 | Sweden | 10,549,347 | 7,127,139 | 1,461,063 | 20.50% |
| 110 | Belgium | 11,655,930 | 7,874,746 | 1,590,699 | 20.20% |
| 111 | Germany | 83,369,843 | 56,324,666 | 11,321,258 | 20.10% |
| 112 | Portugal | 10,270,865 | 6,938,996 | 1,394,738 | 20.10% |
| 113 | Turkmenistan | 6,430,770 | 4,344,628 | 873,270 | 20.10% |
| 114 | Ukraine | 39,701,739 | 26,822,495 | 5,391,321 | 20.10% |
| 115 | Brazil | 215,313,498 | 145,465,799 | 29,093,160 | 20.00% |
| 116 | Montenegro | 627,082 | 423,657 | 84,731 | 20.00% |
| 117 | Netherlands | 17,564,014 | 11,866,248 | 2,349,517 | 19.80% |
| 118 | North Macedonia | 2,093,599 | 1,414,435 | 277,229 | 19.60% |
| 119 | Armenia | 2,780,469 | 1,878,485 | 366,305 | 19.50% |
| 120 | Serbia | 7,221,365 | 4,878,754 | 951,357 | 19.50% |
| 121 | Denmark | 5,882,261 | 3,974,056 | 766,993 | 19.30% |
| 122 | Namibia | 2,567,012 | 1,734,273 | 327,778 | 18.90% |
| 123 | Ecuador | 18,001,000 | 12,161,476 | 2,274,196 | 18.70% |
| 124 | Guatemala | 17,843,908 | 12,055,344 | 2,242,294 | 18.60% |
| 125 | Austria | 8,939,617 | 6,039,605 | 1,111,287 | 18.40% |
| 126 | Honduras | 10,432,860 | 7,048,440 | 1,282,816 | 18.20% |
| 127 | Brunei | 449,002 | 303,346 | 54,906 | 18.10% |
| 128 | Greenland | 56,466 | 38,148 | 6,867 | 18% |
| 129 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3,233,526 | 2,184,570 | 391,038 | 17.90% |
| 130 | Mauritius | 1,299,469 | 877,921 | 157,148 | 17.90% |
| 131 | Switzerland | 8,740,472 | 5,905,063 | 1,045,196 | 17.70% |
| 132 | Albania | 2,842,321 | 1,920,272 | 337,968 | 17.60% |
| 133 | Gabon | 2,388,992 | 1,614,003 | 284,065 | 17.60% |
| 134 | Equatorial Guinea | 1,674,908 | 1,131,568 | 198,024 | 17.50% |
| 135 | Hong Kong | 7,488,865 | 5,059,477 | 870,230 | 17.20% |
| 136 | Yemen | 33,696,614 | 22,765,432 | 3,915,654 | 17.20% |
| 137 | Bolivia | 12,224,110 | 8,258,609 | 1,412,222 | 17.10% |
| 138 | Nicaragua | 6,948,392 | 4,694,334 | 802,731 | 17.10% |
| 139 | Mongolia | 3,398,366 | 2,295,936 | 383,421 | 16.70% |
| 140 | Paraguay | 6,780,744 | 4,581,071 | 746,715 | 16.30% |
| 141 | Uzbekistan | 34,627,652 | 23,394,442 | 3,626,138 | 15.50% |
| 142 | Moldova | 3,272,996 | 2,211,236 | 329,474 | 14.90% |
| 143 | Monaco | 36,469 | 24,638 | 3,671 | 14.90% |
| 144 | Kyrgyzstan | 6,630,623 | 4,479,649 | 645,069 | 14.40% |
| 145 | Lesotho | 2,305,825 | 1,557,815 | 221,210 | 14.20% |
| 146 | Tajikistan | 9,952,787 | 6,724,103 | 914,478 | 13.60% |
| 147 | Malaysia | 33,938,221 | 22,928,662 | 3,049,512 | 13.30% |
| 148 | Cape Verde | 593,149 | 400,731 | 52,095 | 13.00% |
| 149 | Sao Tome and Principe | 227,380 | 153,618 | 18,895 | 12.30% |
| 150 | Ghana | 33,475,870 | 22,616,298 | 2,759,188 | 12.20% |
| 151 | Haiti | 11,584,996 | 7,826,823 | 931,392 | 11.90% |
| 152 | Cameroon | 27,914,536 | 18,859,061 | 2,149,933 | 11.40% |
| 153 | Nigeria | 218,541,212 | 147,646,443 | 16,241,109 | 11.00% |
| 154 | Gambia | 2,705,992 | 1,828,168 | 199,270 | 10.90% |
| 155 | Zimbabwe | 16,320,537 | 11,026,155 | 1,157,746 | 10.50% |
| 156 | Angola | 35,588,987 | 24,043,920 | 2,452,480 | 10.20% |
| 157 | Senegal | 17,316,449 | 11,698,993 | 1,146,501 | 9.80% |
| 158 | Mauritania | 4,736,139 | 3,199,736 | 310,374 | 9.70% |
| 159 | Djibouti | 1,120,849 | 757,246 | 72,696 | 9.60% |
| 160 | Benin | 13,352,864 | 9,021,195 | 838,971 | 9.30% |
| 161 | Cote d'Ivoire | 24,294,750 | 16,413,533 | 1,510,045 | 9.20% |
| 162 | Zambia | 20,017,675 | 13,523,941 | 1,203,631 | 8.90% |
| 163 | Thailand | 71,697,030 | 48,438,513 | 4,117,274 | 8.50% |
| 164 | Chad | 17,723,315 | 11,973,872 | 969,884 | 8.10% |
| 165 | Maldives | 523,787 | 353,870 | 27,956 | 7.90% |
| 166 | Sierra Leone | 8,605,718 | 5,814,023 | 441,866 | 7.60% |
| 167 | South Sudan | 10,913,164 | 7,372,934 | 552,970 | 7.50% |
| 168 | Sudan | 46,874,204 | 31,668,212 | 2,375,116 | 7.50% |
| 169 | Togo | 8,848,699 | 5,978,181 | 448,364 | 7.50% |
| 170 | Guinea Bissau | 2,105,566 | 1,422,520 | 102,421 | 7.20% |
| 171 | Tanzania | 65,497,748 | 44,250,279 | 3,141,770 | 7.10% |
| 172 | Kenya | 54,027,487 | 36,500,970 | 2,555,068 | 7.00% |
| 173 | China | 1,425,887,337 | 963,329,485 | 66,469,734 | 6.90% |
| 174 | South Korea | 51,815,810 | 35,006,761 | 2,415,467 | 6.90% |
| 175 | Taiwan | 23,893,394 | 16,142,377 | 1,113,824 | 6.90% |
| 176 | Guinea | 13,859,341 | 9,363,371 | 636,709 | 6.80% |
| 177 | Mali | 22,593,590 | 15,264,229 | 1,037,968 | 6.80% |
| 178 | Bhutan | 782,455 | 528,627 | 35,418 | 6.70% |
| 179 | Comoros | 836,774 | 565,325 | 37,311 | 6.60% |
| 180 | Liberia | 5,302,681 | 3,582,491 | 236,444 | 6.60% |
| 181 | Sri Lanka | 21,832,143 | 14,749,796 | 958,737 | 6.50% |
| 182 | Burkina Faso | 22,673,762 | 15,318,394 | 965,059 | 6.30% |
| 183 | Singapore | 5,975,689 | 4,037,175 | 250,305 | 6.20% |
| 184 | Reunion | 974,052 | 658,070 | 38,168 | 5.80% |
| 185 | Indonesia | 275,501,339 | 186,128,705 | 10,609,336 | 5.70% |
| 186 | Madagascar | 29,611,714 | 20,005,674 | 1,080,306 | 5.40% |
| 187 | Pakistan | 235,824,862 | 159,323,277 | 8,603,457 | 5.40% |
| 188 | Malawi | 20,405,317 | 13,785,832 | 730,649 | 5.30% |
| 189 | Mozambique | 32,969,518 | 22,274,206 | 1,180,533 | 5.30% |
| 190 | Central African Republic | 5,579,144 | 3,769,270 | 192,233 | 5.10% |
| 191 | Philippines | 115,559,009 | 78,071,666 | 3,981,655 | 5.10% |
| 192 | India | 1,417,173,173 | 957,442,196 | 46,914,668 | 4.90% |
| 193 | Uganda | 47,249,585 | 31,921,820 | 1,564,169 | 4.90% |
| 194 | Western Sahara | 575,986 | 389,136 | 19,068 | 4.90% |
| 195 | Eswatini | 1,201,670 | 811,848 | 39,781 | 4.90% |
| 196 | Somalia | 17,597,511 | 11,888,878 | 546,888 | 4.60% |
| 197 | DR Congo | 99,010,212 | 66,891,299 | 2,943,217 | 4.40% |
| 198 | Niger | 26,207,977 | 17,706,109 | 761,363 | 4.30% |
| 199 | Eritrea | 3,684,032 | 2,488,932 | 102,046 | 4.10% |
| 200 | Ethiopia | 123,379,924 | 83,355,477 | 3,334,219 | 4.00% |
| 201 | Republic of the Congo | 5,970,424 | 4,033,618 | 161,345 | 4.00% |
| 202 | Rwanda | 13,776,698 | 9,307,537 | 372,301 | 4.00% |
| 203 | Bangladesh | 171,186,372 | 115,653,513 | 4,163,526 | 3.60% |
| 204 | Vietnam | 98,186,856 | 66,335,040 | 2,388,061 | 3.60% |
| 205 | Laos | 7,529,475 | 5,086,913 | 178,042 | 3.50% |
| 206 | Japan | 123,951,692 | 83,741,763 | 2,763,478 | 3.30% |
| 207 | Nepal | 30,547,580 | 20,637,945 | 681,052 | 3.30% |
| 208 | Cambodia | 16,767,842 | 11,328,354 | 362,507 | 3.20% |
| 209 | Afghanistan | 41,128,771 | 27,786,598 | 805,811 | 2.90% |
| 210 | Myanmar | 54,179,306 | 36,603,539 | 1,061,503 | 2.90% |
| 211 | Burundi | 12,889,576 | 8,708,198 | 226,413 | 2.60% |
| 212 | North Korea | 26,069,416 | 17,612,497 | 422,700 | 2.40% |
| 213 | Timor Leste | 1,341,296 | 906,180 | 19,936 | 2.20% |
| Totals | 8,064,851,695 | 5,448,613,805 | 676,715,832 | 19.73% |
