Body weight — Share of population who are obese in United States of America

United States of America: Body weight — Share of population who are obese was 40.8 Percentage of population in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
40.8 Percentage of population
Change on year
down 3.5%
World rank
1st
of 18 countries
All-time high
42.8 Percentage of population
in 2018
All-time low
15 Percentage of population
in 1978
Years of data
14
1978–2023

Body weight — Share of population who are obese in United States of America, 1978–2023

0102030401978200020231978: 15 Percentage of population1991: 23.2 Percentage of population2000: 30.9 Percentage of population2002: 31.2 Percentage of population2004: 32.9 Percentage of population2006: 35.1 Percentage of population2008: 34.3 Percentage of population2010: 36.1 Percentage of population2012: 35.3 Percentage of population2014: 38.2 Percentage of population2016: 40 Percentage of population2018: 42.8 Percentage of population2020: 42.3 Percentage of population2023: 40.8 Percentage of population

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of population.

Analysis

The most recent figure for body weight — share of population who are obese in United States of America is 40.8 Percentage of population, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 3.5% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, body weight — share of population who are obese in United States of America peaked at 42.8 Percentage of population in 2018 and was at its lowest, 15 Percentage of population, in 1978.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

Body weight — Share of population who are obese in United States of America, year by year

Annual values for Body weight — Share of population who are obese in United States of America, 1978 to 2023.
Year Percentage of population Change
1978 15 Percentage of population
1991 23.2 Percentage of population +54.7%
2000 30.9 Percentage of population +33.2%
2002 31.2 Percentage of population +1.0%
2004 32.9 Percentage of population +5.4%
2006 35.1 Percentage of population +6.7%
2008 34.3 Percentage of population -2.3%
2010 36.1 Percentage of population +5.2%
2012 35.3 Percentage of population -2.2%
2014 38.2 Percentage of population +8.2%
2016 40 Percentage of population +4.7%
2018 42.8 Percentage of population +7.0%
2020 42.3 Percentage of population -1.2%
2023 40.8 Percentage of population -3.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 15 Percentage of population 15 Percentage of population 15 Percentage of population 1
1990s 23.2 Percentage of population 23.2 Percentage of population 23.2 Percentage of population 1
2000s 32.88 Percentage of population 30.9 Percentage of population 35.1 Percentage of population 5
2010s 38.48 Percentage of population 35.3 Percentage of population 42.8 Percentage of population 5
2020s 41.55 Percentage of population 40.8 Percentage of population 42.3 Percentage of population 2

Countries ranked near United States of America

  1. 1 Latvia 24.3 Percentage of population compare
  2. 2 Mexico 36.4 Percentage of population compare
  3. 3 Argentina 36 Percentage of population compare
  4. 4 New Zealand 34.2 Percentage of population compare

See the full ranking of 20 places →

More population data for United States of America

All data for United States of America →

Frequently asked questions

What is body weight — share of population who are obese in United States of America?
Body weight — share of population who are obese in United States of America was 40.8 Percentage of population in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest body weight — share of population who are obese recorded in United States of America?
The highest recorded value was 42.8 Percentage of population in 2018.
What is the lowest body weight — share of population who are obese recorded in United States of America?
The lowest recorded value was 15 Percentage of population in 1978.
How does United States of America rank for body weight — share of population who are obese?
United States of America ranks 1st out of 18 countries with data for 2023.
Is body weight — share of population who are obese rising or falling in United States of America?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United States of America data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Body weight — Share of population who are obese. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Body weight — Share of population who are obese in United States of America. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/body-weight-share-of-population-who-are-obese/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Body weight — Share of population who are obese
Unit
Percentage of population
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
20 places, 480 data points, 1975–2025
Last refreshed

Unhealthy lifestyles and poor environments cause millions of people to die prematurely. Smoking, harmful alcohol use, physical inactivity and obesity are the root cause of many chronic conditions. This dataset presents the latest data for overweight and obesity (measured and self-reported data). Please refer to the Sources and Methods for detailed country-specific information.