In 2024, Pacific island territories continued to lead the world in adult obesity prevalence. American Samoa ranked first at 75.87% (+23.61 percentage points compared with 1980), followed by Tonga at 73.81% (+34.37), the Cook Islands at 72.36% (+33.00), Nauru at 71.39% (+7.35), and Tokelau at 70.69% (+25.58). Significant increases were also recorded in Niue at 66.89% (+26.20), Tuvalu at 65.09% (+25.41), and Samoa at 64.28% (+36.38), with all three territories ranking among the world's top ten.
In North America, the highest obesity prevalence rates are recorded in the Bahamas at 48.28% (+36.34 percentage points since 1980), the United States at 40.96% (+28.86), and Mexico at 37.36% (+28.68). Across the Caribbean, elevated obesity rates are reported in Saint Kitts and Nevis at 46.72% (+33.23), Barbados at 39.41% (+28.24), and Puerto Rico at 42.39% (+30.59). Central America has experienced a particularly sharp increase in obesity prevalence, with Panama at 37.72% (+30.75), Costa Rica at 32.70% (+25.78), Honduras at 31.76% (+26.73), Nicaragua at 34.90% (+26.90), and El Salvador at 32.16% (+24.78). In South America, Chile leads the region with a prevalence rate of 40.46% (+32.26). High rates are also recorded in Argentina at 37.20% (+28.53), Uruguay at 34.95% (+26.46), and Paraguay at 34.68% (+26.43), while Brazil at 30.14% (+23.82) and Peru at 29.15% (+22.70) have also posted substantial increases.
In Europe, the highest obesity prevalence rates are found in Romania at 32.42% (+24.90), Hungary at 31.36% (+21.19), Croatia at 30.78% (+20.49), and Malta at 30.62% (+8.82). Major European economies continue to report more moderate levels, including the United Kingdom at 27.38% (+20.45), Germany at 20.64% (+9.47), Italy at 13.99% (+0.66), and France at 11.19% (+1.38).
In Africa, Egypt stands out with an adult obesity prevalence of 43.93% (+30.45), while Libya records 33.66% (+19.94). In southern Africa, South Africa reports a high rate of 31.78% (+21.12), whereas Ethiopia, at 2.92% (+2.64), remains among the countries with the lowest obesity prevalence worldwide.
The Middle East and Western Asia are characterized by persistently high obesity rates, including Qatar at 42.04% (+28.66 percentage points since 1980), Kuwait at 40.42% (+20.03), Saudi Arabia at 40.10% (+24.30), Iraq at 39.69% (+25.12), and the United Arab Emirates at 31.61% (+18.83). Across East and Southeast Asia, the picture is more mixed: China at 9.29% (+8.44) and Japan at 5.90% (+4.33) continue to maintain relatively low obesity prevalence, while Brunei at 37.05% (+32.33) and Malaysia at 23.33% (+20.57) have experienced sharp increases.
In Oceania, beyond the Pacific island territories, high obesity prevalence is also evident in developed economies, including Australia at 30.59% (+23.02) and New Zealand at 34.02% (+26.43). Fiji at 39.04% (+23.39) and Papua New Guinea at 27.99% (+17.85) have likewise recorded substantial increases.
The largest increases in obesity prevalence between 1980 and 2024 have been concentrated among small island states and several countries across the Americas. Beyond the Pacific region, particularly sharp rises were recorded in Chile (+32.26 percentage points), Panama (+30.75), Argentina (+28.53), and the United States (+28.86). The scale of the challenge has also intensified significantly in the Gulf Arab monarchies, including Qatar (+28.66 percentage points), Saudi Arabia (+24.30), and Kuwait (+20.03).
Only a limited number of countries have managed to contain the trend. Among major European economies, the smallest increases were recorded in Italy (+0.66) and France (+1.38). A rare decline was observed in Lithuania, where adult obesity prevalence stood at 21.31% (-0.72 percentage points).
At the macro-regional level, the Pacific and Caribbean regions remain the world's highest-risk obesity zones. The Middle East and South America have steadily converged toward high prevalence levels, North America continues to exhibit persistently elevated rates, and Europe remains in the moderate-to-high range with several notable hotspots. Meanwhile, most of Africa and East Asia still maintain low to moderate obesity prevalence, although the overall trend remains upward across virtually all regions.
