Obesity rates by country 2025 reveal a dramatic global divide between nations battling rising waistlines and those still facing undernutrition. From the Pacific Islands to North America and the Middle East, obesity is becoming a serious public health crisis in many regions. Understanding where these rates are highest can shed light on broader trends in urbanization, processed food consumption, and lifestyle changes.
To prepare this comprehensive global ranking of obesity prevalence in 2025, we’ve analyzed the latest WHO and national health data for 195 countries and territories. Obesity rate here is defined as the percentage of adults (18+) with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more. The focus is on population-wide averages, regardless of gender. While some small island nations may have limited sample sizes, trends in such countries are still considered representative due to decades of consistent data. Note that certain war-torn or isolated countries may have outdated or estimated statistics.
Countries with the Highest Obesity Rates in 2025
Here are the top 10 countries with the highest obesity rates in 2025, based on the percentage of the adult population classified as obese:
- American Samoa: 75.6%
- Tonga: 70.5%
- Nauru: 70.2%
- Tokelau: 69.2%
- Cook Islands: 68.4%
- Niue: 66.5%
- Tuvalu: 63.9%
- Samoa: 61.2%
- French Polynesia: 48.4%
- Bahamas: 47.6%
These figures highlight an alarming pattern: 8 of the top 10 countries are located in the Pacific Islands, a region grappling with the effects of globalization on diet. These nations have seen traditional diets replaced with high-calorie, processed imports. Combined with lower physical activity levels and genetic predispositions, this shift has triggered a full-blown health crisis.
Outside Oceania, The Bahamas and French Polynesia stand out with nearly half their adult population classified as obese. This suggests the issue is spreading across other island economies and high-income regions with similar consumption patterns.
Complete Country-wise Obesity Rate Ranking (2025)
Global Insights Beyond the Top 10
While the top 10 are dominated by small Pacific nations, other notable regions and trends emerge in the full ranking:
- The United States ranks 18th with an obesity rate of 42.9%, making it the highest among large developed economies.
- Middle Eastern countries like Kuwait (45.4%), Qatar (43.8%), and Saudi Arabia (41.1%) show extremely high rates, likely linked to sedentary lifestyles and high-calorie diets.
- In Latin America, Chile (39.5%), Mexico (36.1%), and Argentina (36%) all report concerning levels, reflecting a broader nutrition transition.
- European nations show varied rates: Hungary (36.4%), Romania (38.2%), and UK (28.7%) remain above the global average, while countries like France (10.9%) and Switzerland (13.7%) report significantly lower figures, likely due to lifestyle and diet differences.
- Asia’s giants—India (7.2%), China (8.2%), Vietnam (2.1%), and Japan (4.9%)—have among the lowest obesity rates globally, although upward trends are emerging in urban centers.
- The lowest rates overall are seen in Ethiopia (2.4%), Timor-Leste (2.2%), and Vietnam (2.1%), where undernutrition still prevails as the dominant nutritional issue.
Regional Breakdown: A Growing Divide
One relevant perspective to consider is the continental divide in obesity rates:
- Oceania dominates the top with the world’s highest national averages.
- North America shows consistently high figures, with the U.S. and some Caribbean nations exceeding 40%.
- Middle East and Gulf states reflect affluent economies but poor dietary health indicators.
- Europe is split, with Eastern nations faring worse than Western ones.
- Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa show lower rates but may experience rising obesity as urbanization and Western-style diets increase.
While obesity was once seen as a problem only for high-income nations, the 2025 data shows it is now a global issue, cutting across income levels and continents. With obesity linked to chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart conditions, its rise poses significant challenges to healthcare systems, productivity, and overall quality of life.
Efforts to address this crisis must include public health education, improved food policies, urban design for physical activity, and global cooperation. Countries at the top of the list urgently need multi-sectoral interventions, while those at the bottom must act proactively to prevent repeating this trend.