Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight in Africa
Africa: Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight was 4.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight in Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of children moderately or severely overweight in Africa is 4.5%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.1% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of children moderately or severely overweight in Africa peaked at 6.4% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2019.
That places Africa 23rd out of 30 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight in Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.3% | — |
| 2001 | 6.4% | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 6.4% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 6.4% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 6.3% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 6.2% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 6.0% | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 5.7% | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 5.5% | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 5.3% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 4.9% | -3.9% |
| 2013 | 4.7% | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 4.5% | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 4.3% | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 4.1% | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 4.0% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 4.2% | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 4.5% | +7.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.1% | 5.5% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.5% | 3.9% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa
More infrastructure data for Africa
- Proportion of children moderately or severely stunted 30.3% (2024)
- Proportion of the target population who received 3 doses of 76.0% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 2.9% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 2.6% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 2.7% (2024)
- Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global 1.8% (2024)
- Total official flows for infrastructure, by recipient countries 17,916 (2024)
- Total reserves in months of imports 8.09 (2024)
- Proportion of the target population who received 57.0% (2024)
- Proportion of local breeds classified as being at risk of extinction 28.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of children moderately or severely overweight in Africa?
- Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight in Africa was 4.5% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of children moderately or severely overweight recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.4% in 2001.
- What is the lowest proportion of children moderately or severely overweight recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2019.
- How does Africa rank for proportion of children moderately or severely overweight?
- Africa ranks 23rd out of 30 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of children moderately or severely overweight rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of children moderately or severely overweight (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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