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Mean body mass index of women

What this indicator measures

Mean body mass index (weight in kg divided by height in meters squared) of adult women aged 18 and over, age-adjusted to allow comparison between countries (WHO modeled estimate).

How to read this?

A BMI of 25 corresponds, for example, to 67 kg at 1.64 m; from 18.5 to 25, weight is considered normal.

Ranking : ranked from highest to lowest

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190countries with data
34.1 kg/m²maximum · Samoa
26.2 kg/m²median
21.1 kg/m²minimum · Madagascar
2016data year(s)

In brief

The "Mean body mass index of women" ranking covers 190 countries and territories. Lowest value: Madagascar (21.1 kg/m²). Highest value: Samoa (34.1 kg/m²). Median: 26.2 kg/m² (data: 2016). The top 10% of countries exceed 29.4 kg/m², while the bottom 10% stay below 23.1 kg/m². By continent, the median is highest in Oceania (30.8 kg/m²) and lowest in Africa (24.4 kg/m²).

Median by continent

Lower Higher
  • Oceania 30.8 kg/m² (16)
  • North America 28.3 kg/m² (23)
  • South America 27.5 kg/m² (12)
  • Asia 26.1 kg/m² (46)
  • Europe 25.9 kg/m² (40)
  • Africa 24.4 kg/m² (50)

Why this indicator matters

The mean body mass index summarizes a population's body size. It is used to track undernutrition on one side and overweight on the other.

What makes this indicator vary

It depends on diet, physical activity, income, urbanization, genetics and the availability of processed foods.

Reading precautions

WHO modeled estimate based on surveys of varied dates, and whose latest edition dates back several years. BMI does not distinguish muscle from fat.

Full ranking

ranked from highest to lowest

RankCountryValueYear
1er🇼🇸 Samoa34.1 kg/m²2016
2e🇹🇴 Tonga33.7 kg/m²2016
3e🇳🇺 Niue33.3 kg/m²2016
4e🇨🇰 Cook Islands33.1 kg/m²2016
5e🇳🇷 Nauru32.7 kg/m²2016
6e🇹🇻 Tuvalu31.6 kg/m²2016
7e🇪🇬 Egypt31.4 kg/m²2016
7e🇫🇲 Micronesia31.4 kg/m²2016
9e🇰🇮 Kiribati31.1 kg/m²2016
10e🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis30.7 kg/m²2016
11e🇧🇿 Belize30.5 kg/m²2016
12e🇰🇼 Kuwait30.4 kg/m²2016
12e🇱🇨 St. Lucia30.4 kg/m²2016
12e🇲🇭 Marshall Islands30.4 kg/m²2016
15e🇶🇦 Qatar30.1 kg/m²2016
16e🇯🇴 Jordan29.8 kg/m²2016
17e🇮🇶 Iraq29.7 kg/m²2016
18e🇯🇲 Jamaica29.6 kg/m²2016
18e🇵🇼 Palau29.6 kg/m²2016
20e🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates29.4 kg/m²2016
21e🇿🇦 South Africa29.3 kg/m²2016
22e🇧🇧 Barbados29.2 kg/m²2016
22e🇱🇾 Libya29.2 kg/m²2016
22e🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia29.2 kg/m²2016
22e🇸🇾 Syria29.2 kg/m²2016
26e🇩🇲 Dominica29 kg/m²2016
27e🇸🇿 Eswatini28.9 kg/m²2016
27e🇺🇸 United States28.9 kg/m²2016
29e🇧🇸 Bahamas28.8 kg/m²2016
29e🇫🇯 Fiji28.8 kg/m²2016
29e🇬🇩 Grenada28.8 kg/m²2016
32e🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago28.6 kg/m²2016
32e🇹🇷 Türkiye28.6 kg/m²2016
34e🇲🇽 Mexico28.4 kg/m²2016
35e🇸🇻 El Salvador28.3 kg/m²2016
36e🇻🇨 St. Vincent & Grenadines28.2 kg/m²2016
37e🇨🇱 Chile28.1 kg/m²2016
38e🇳🇿 New Zealand28 kg/m²2016
39e🇦🇿 Azerbaijan27.9 kg/m²2016
39e🇨🇷 Costa Rica27.9 kg/m²2016
39e🇪🇨 Ecuador27.9 kg/m²2016
39e🇳🇮 Nicaragua27.9 kg/m²2016
39e🇸🇨 Seychelles27.9 kg/m²2016
44e🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda27.7 kg/m²2016
44e🇧🇴 Bolivia27.7 kg/m²2016
44e🇬🇾 Guyana27.7 kg/m²2016
44e🇵🇦 Panama27.7 kg/m²2016
44e🇸🇷 Suriname27.7 kg/m²2016
49e🇦🇷 Argentina27.6 kg/m²2016
49e🇬🇪 Georgia27.6 kg/m²2016
49e🇭🇳 Honduras27.6 kg/m²2016
52e🇩🇴 Dominican Republic27.4 kg/m²2016
52e🇱🇧 Lebanon27.4 kg/m²2016
52e🇺🇿 Uzbekistan27.4 kg/m²2016
55e🇬🇹 Guatemala27.3 kg/m²2016
55e🇲🇩 Moldova27.3 kg/m²2016
55e🇺🇾 Uruguay27.3 kg/m²2016
58e🇧🇳 Brunei27.2 kg/m²2016
58e🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan27.2 kg/m²2016
60e🇵🇪 Peru27.1 kg/m²2016
60e🇹🇳 Tunisia27.1 kg/m²2016
62e🇦🇲 Armenia27 kg/m²2016
62e🇬🇧 United Kingdom27 kg/m²2016
62e🇮🇪 Ireland27 kg/m²2016
62e🇮🇷 Iran27 kg/m²2016
62e🇱🇸 Lesotho27 kg/m²2016
67e🇮🇱 Israel26.9 kg/m²2016
67e🇵🇾 Paraguay26.9 kg/m²2016
67e🇸🇧 Solomon Islands26.9 kg/m²2016
70e🇧🇷 Brazil26.8 kg/m²2016
70e🇭🇷 Croatia26.8 kg/m²2016
70e🇷🇴 Romania26.8 kg/m²2016
70e🇻🇪 Venezuela26.8 kg/m²2016
70e🇻🇺 Vanuatu26.8 kg/m²2016
75e🇦🇺 Australia26.7 kg/m²2016
75e🇬🇷 Greece26.7 kg/m²2016
77e🇧🇾 Belarus26.6 kg/m²2016
77e🇨🇦 Canada26.6 kg/m²2016
77e🇨🇴 Colombia26.6 kg/m²2016
77e🇲🇳 Mongolia26.6 kg/m²2016
77e🇲🇷 Mauritania26.6 kg/m²2016
77e🇹🇲 Turkmenistan26.6 kg/m²2016
83e🇬🇦 Gabon26.5 kg/m²2016
83e🇲🇦 Morocco26.5 kg/m²2016
83e🇸🇮 Slovenia26.5 kg/m²2016
86e🇩🇿 Algeria26.4 kg/m²2016
86e🇭🇺 Hungary26.4 kg/m²2016
86e🇰🇿 Kazakhstan26.4 kg/m²2016
86e🇷🇺 Russia26.4 kg/m²2016
90e🇦🇱 Albania26.3 kg/m²2016
90e🇲🇻 Maldives26.3 kg/m²2016
90e🇲🇹 Malta26.3 kg/m²2016
90e🇴🇲 Oman26.3 kg/m²2016
90e🇹🇯 Tajikistan26.3 kg/m²2016
95e🇨🇿 Czechia26.2 kg/m²2016
95e🇱🇻 Latvia26.2 kg/m²2016
95e🇲🇰 North Macedonia26.2 kg/m²2016
95e🇺🇦 Ukraine26.2 kg/m²2016
99e🇦🇩 Andorra26.1 kg/m²2016
99e🇧🇼 Botswana26.1 kg/m²2016
99e🇲🇪 Montenegro26.1 kg/m²2016
99e🇲🇾 Malaysia26.1 kg/m²2016
99e🇳🇴 Norway26.1 kg/m²2016
104e🇨🇺 Cuba26 kg/m²2016
104e🇨🇾 Cyprus26 kg/m²2016
104e🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea26 kg/m²2016
107e🇪🇪 Estonia25.9 kg/m²2016
107e🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea25.9 kg/m²2016
107e🇲🇺 Mauritius25.9 kg/m²2016
107e🇵🇱 Poland25.9 kg/m²2016
111e🇩🇪 Germany25.8 kg/m²2016
111e🇱🇹 Lithuania25.8 kg/m²2016
113e🇧🇬 Bulgaria25.7 kg/m²2016
114e🇧🇪 Belgium25.6 kg/m²2016
114e🇰🇲 Comoros25.6 kg/m²2016
114e🇱🇺 Luxembourg25.6 kg/m²2016
114e🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe25.6 kg/m²2016
118e🇫🇮 Finland25.5 kg/m²2016
118e🇮🇸 Iceland25.5 kg/m²2016
118e🇷🇸 Serbia25.5 kg/m²2016
118e🇸🇰 Slovakia25.5 kg/m²2016
122e🇸🇪 Sweden25.4 kg/m²2016
123e🇨🇻 Cape Verde25.3 kg/m²2016
123e🇳🇦 Namibia25.3 kg/m²2016
123e🇿🇼 Zimbabwe25.3 kg/m²2016
126e🇬🇭 Ghana25.2 kg/m²2016
127e🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina25.1 kg/m²2016
127e🇨🇲 Cameroon25.1 kg/m²2016
127e🇱🇷 Liberia25.1 kg/m²2016
127e🇳🇱 Netherlands25.1 kg/m²2016
127e🇵🇹 Portugal25.1 kg/m²2016
132e🇹🇭 Thailand25 kg/m²2016
133e🇧🇭 Bahrain24.8 kg/m²2016
133e🇪🇸 Spain24.8 kg/m²2016
135e🇮🇹 Italy24.7 kg/m²2016
136e🇦🇹 Austria24.6 kg/m²2016
136e🇩🇯 Djibouti24.6 kg/m²2016
136e🇵🇰 Pakistan24.6 kg/m²2016
139e🇧🇯 Benin24.5 kg/m²2016
139e🇧🇹 Bhutan24.5 kg/m²2016
139e🇬🇲 Gambia24.5 kg/m²2016
139e🇰🇪 Kenya24.5 kg/m²2016
139e🇹🇬 Togo24.5 kg/m²2016
144e🇩🇰 Denmark24.4 kg/m²2016
145e🇦🇴 Angola24.3 kg/m²2016
146e🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire24.2 kg/m²2016
146e🇫🇷 France24.2 kg/m²2016
146e🇭🇹 Haiti24.2 kg/m²2016
149e🇦🇫 Afghanistan24.1 kg/m²2016
149e🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville24.1 kg/m²2016
149e🇹🇿 Tanzania24.1 kg/m²2016
149e🇾🇪 Yemen24.1 kg/m²2016
153e🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau24 kg/m²2016
153e🇰🇵 North Korea24 kg/m²2016
153e🇸🇳 Senegal24 kg/m²2016
156e🇳🇬 Nigeria23.9 kg/m²2016
156e🇸🇴 Somalia23.9 kg/m²2016
158e🇮🇩 Indonesia23.8 kg/m²2016
159e🇨🇫 Central African Republic23.7 kg/m²2016
159e🇨🇭 Switzerland23.7 kg/m²2016
159e🇱🇰 Sri Lanka23.7 kg/m²2016
159e🇿🇲 Zambia23.7 kg/m²2016
163e🇨🇳 China23.5 kg/m²2016
163e🇵🇭 Philippines23.5 kg/m²2016
163e🇸🇱 Sierra Leone23.5 kg/m²2016
166e🇬🇳 Guinea23.4 kg/m²2016
166e🇲🇿 Mozambique23.4 kg/m²2016
168e🇺🇬 Uganda23.3 kg/m²2016
169e🇲🇼 Malawi23.2 kg/m²2016
170e🇰🇷 South Korea23.1 kg/m²2016
170e🇱🇦 Laos23.1 kg/m²2016
170e🇲🇱 Mali23.1 kg/m²2016
173e🇲🇲 Myanmar (Burma)23 kg/m²2016
173e🇸🇬 Singapore23 kg/m²2016
175e🇷🇼 Rwanda22.8 kg/m²2016
176e🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa22.6 kg/m²2016
177e🇳🇵 Nepal22.5 kg/m²2016
178e🇰🇭 Cambodia22.3 kg/m²2016
178e🇳🇪 Niger22.3 kg/m²2016
180e🇧🇫 Burkina Faso22.1 kg/m²2016
181e🇧🇩 Bangladesh22 kg/m²2016
182e🇮🇳 India21.9 kg/m²2016
182e🇹🇩 Chad21.9 kg/m²2016
182e🇻🇳 Vietnam21.9 kg/m²2016
185e🇯🇵 Japan21.8 kg/m²2016
186e🇧🇮 Burundi21.6 kg/m²2016
187e🇹🇱 Timor-Leste21.3 kg/m²2016
188e🇪🇷 Eritrea21.1 kg/m²2016
188e🇪🇹 Ethiopia21.1 kg/m²2016
188e🇲🇬 Madagascar21.1 kg/m²2016

Frequently asked questions

Which country has the highest value for "Mean body mass index of women"?

The highest value is in Samoa, at 34.1 kg/m² (2016).

Which country has the lowest value for "Mean body mass index of women"?

The lowest value is in Madagascar, at 21.1 kg/m² (2016).

What is the world median value of "Mean body mass index of women"?

The world median is 26.2 kg/m², calculated across 190 countries: half of the countries are above it, the other half below.

What is the value of "Mean body mass index of women" for France?

France scores 24.2 kg/m² (2016), ranking 146 out of 190 countries (ranked from highest to lowest).

Where does the "Mean body mass index of women" data come from?

It comes from OMS – Global Health Observatory (IMC moyen standardisé selon l'âge, adultes 18 ans et plus). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.

How is BMI calculated?

Weight in kilograms is divided by height in meters, squared.

Is BMI enough to judge health?

No. It does not distinguish muscle from fat or the distribution of weight. It is a statistical benchmark, not a diagnosis.

Source and update

Source : OMS – Global Health Observatory (IMC moyen standardisé selon l'âge, adultes 18 ans et plus). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.

Indicators in the same category : Body and lifestyle