Obesity Rate in Europe (2026)
Europe’s obesity map is more uneven than it first appears. While several countries in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe record obesity rates above 30%, others in Western and Northern Europe remain much lower. Obesity Rate in Europe compares adult obesity levels across 40 European countries, showing which parts of the continent carry the heaviest obesity burden and where obesity rates are relatively lower.
See Also:
Obesity Rate in Europe Rankings
| # | Country | Obesity Rate (Both Sexes) | Global Rank | Continent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇷🇴Romania |
37.68% | 30 | Europe |
| 2 | 🇭🇺Hungary |
36.91% | 32 | Europe |
| 3 | 🇭🇷Croatia |
36.46% | 34 | Europe |
| 4 | 🇬🇷Greece |
33.69% | 46 | Europe |
| 5 | 🇲🇹Malta |
33.3% | 49 | Europe |
| 6 | 🇨🇿Czech Republic |
31.63% | 56 | Europe |
| 7 | 🇲🇰North Macedonia |
31.2% | 60 | Europe |
| 8 | 🇮🇪Ireland |
30.61% | 65 | Europe |
| 9 | 🇸🇰Slovakia |
30.29% | 68 | Europe |
| 10 | 🇬🇧United Kingdom |
29.24% | 75 | Europe |
| 11 | 🇱🇻Latvia |
27.87% | 80 | Europe |
| 12 | 🇺🇦Ukraine |
27.77% | 81 | Europe |
| 13 | 🇦🇱Albania |
27.27% | 84 | Europe |
| 14 | 🇲🇩Moldova |
27.02% | 87 | Europe |
| 15 | 🇫🇮Finland |
26.24% | 89 | Europe |
| 16 | 🇱🇹Lithuania |
26.12% | 90 | Europe |
| 17 | 🇧🇾Belarus |
26.1% | 91 | Europe |
| 18 | 🇧🇦Bosnia and Herzegovina |
26.08% | 92 | Europe |
| 19 | 🇵🇱Poland |
25.9% | 93 | Europe |
| 20 | 🇷🇸Serbia |
25.6% | 95 | Europe |
| 21 | 🇪🇪Estonia |
25.05% | 98 | Europe |
| 22 | 🇩🇪Germany |
24.49% | 100 | Europe |
| 23 | 🇧🇬Bulgaria |
23.97% | 102 | Europe |
| 24 | 🇮🇸Iceland |
23.51% | 106 | Europe |
| 25 | 🇵🇹Portugal |
22.98% | 108 | Europe |
| 26 | 🇧🇪Belgium |
22.88% | 110 | Europe |
| 27 | 🇸🇮Slovenia |
22.8% | 111 | Europe |
| 28 | 🇷🇺Russia |
21.25% | 118 | Europe |
| 29 | 🇱🇺Luxembourg |
20.87% | 123 | Europe |
| 30 | 🇳🇴Norway |
20.7% | 124 | Europe |
| 31 | 🇲🇪Montenegro |
20.56% | 125 | Europe |
| 32 | 🇦🇩Andorra |
19.55% | 127 | Europe |
| 33 | 🇪🇸Spain |
18.94% | 128 | Europe |
| 34 | 🇸🇪Sweden |
18.67% | 131 | Europe |
| 35 | 🇦🇹Austria |
18.28% | 132 | Europe |
| 36 | 🇮🇹Italy |
17.9% | 135 | Europe |
| 37 | 🇳🇱Netherlands |
16.93% | 136 | Europe |
| 38 | 🇩🇰Denmark |
15.23% | 145 | Europe |
| 39 | 🇨🇭Switzerland |
12.85% | 151 | Europe |
| 40 | 🇫🇷France |
12.52% | 152 | Europe |
Key Findings
Romania Has the Highest Obesity Rate in Europe
- Romania ranks #1 in Europe with an obesity rate of 37.68%, followed by Hungary (36.91%), Croatia (36.46%), Greece (33.69%), and Malta (33.30%).
- These figures place several Central and Southeastern European countries at the top of the continental ranking.
Central and Southeastern Europe Dominate the Top of the Ranking
- Countries such as Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Greece, Czech Republic, North Macedonia, and Slovakia all rank among Europe’s highest-obesity countries.
- This suggests that the heaviest obesity burden in Europe is concentrated more in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern parts of the continent than in Western Europe.
The United Kingdom Ranks in Europe’s Top 10
- The United Kingdom records an obesity rate of 29.24%, placing it 10th in Europe and 75th globally in this dataset.
- That puts the UK above countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the Netherlands in the European obesity ranking.
Western Europe Generally Records Lower Obesity Rates
- Countries such as France (12.52%), Switzerland (12.85%), Denmark (15.23%), and Netherlands (16.93%) rank among the lowest-obesity countries in Europe.
- This helps explain why Europe’s overall average remains well below North America and Oceania despite several high-ranking countries in the east and southeast.
France Has the Lowest Obesity Rate in Europe
- France ranks last in Europe with an obesity rate of 12.52%, the lowest on the continent in this dataset.
- It is followed by Switzerland (12.85%), Denmark (15.23%), Netherlands (16.93%), and Italy (17.90%).
About Obesity Rate in Europe
Obesity levels in Europe vary widely from one country to another. Some countries in Central and Southeastern Europe now rank among the highest-obesity countries on the continent, while others such as France, Switzerland, Denmark, and the Netherlands remain well below the European leaders. Obesity Rate in Europe measures the percentage of adults classified as obese in each European country and ranks them from highest to lowest.
These differences reflect a combination of diet, physical activity, income levels, healthcare systems, food culture, and lifestyle patterns. Looking at obesity across Europe helps reveal where obesity is most widespread today and how sharply obesity rates differ even within the same continent.
Definitions & Methodology
What does obesity rate in Europe measure?
Obesity rate in Europe shows the percentage of adults classified as obese in each European country. The ranking is based on the Obesity Rate (Both Sexes) value in the dataset.
How are European countries ranked?
European countries are ranked from highest to lowest according to their overall adult obesity rate. A higher percentage means a larger share of the adult population is living with obesity.
What unit is used?
All values are shown as percentages (%). For example, an obesity rate of 37.68% means about 37.68% of the adult population in that country is classified as obese.
Why do obesity rates vary across Europe?
Obesity rates across Europe are influenced by differences in diet, physical activity, urban lifestyles, healthcare systems, income levels, and food culture. These factors help explain why some Central and Southeastern European countries rank much higher than parts of Western Europe.
Obesity Rate in Europe FAQs
Which country has the highest obesity rate in Europe?
Romania has the highest obesity rate in Europe in this dataset at 37.68%, followed by Hungary, Croatia, Greece, and Malta.
Which country has the lowest obesity rate in Europe?
France has the lowest obesity rate in Europe at 12.52%, followed by Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Italy.
Which part of Europe has the highest obesity rates?
Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe contain many of the highest-obesity countries in Europe, including Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Greece, Czech Republic, and North Macedonia.
Why are obesity rates lower in some Western European countries?
Lower obesity rates in countries such as France, Switzerland, Denmark, and the Netherlands may reflect differences in diet, physical activity, healthcare systems, and long-term lifestyle patterns.
How is obesity rate in Europe measured?
Obesity rate in Europe is measured as the percentage of adults in each country who fall into the obesity category according to international public health definitions used in the dataset.