In 2018, 35.6 percent of adults in Australia were considered to be overweight based on their Body Mass Index (BMI). In that year, there were more Australian adults who were overweight than those who were of a normal weight range.
Distribution of the adult population in Australia in financial year 2018, by body mass index range
Characteristic
Share of adults
Underweight
1.3%
Normal range (18.50–19.99)
3.5%
Normal range (20.00–24.99)
28.2%
Overweight
35.6%
Obesity class I
19.7%
Obesity class II
7.7%
Obesity class III
4%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of adults1.3%1.3%3.5%3.5%28.2%28.2%35.6%35.6%19.7%19.7%7.7%7.7%4%4%UnderweightNormal range (18.50–19.99)Normal range (20.00–24.99)OverweightObesity class IObesity class IIObesity class III
0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%
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Australia's financial year runs from July 1 to June 30; for example, financial year 2017 starts on July 1, 2016 and ends on June 30, 2017.
Supplementary notes
Body Mass Index is derived from measured height and weight. 33.8% of respondents aged 18 years and over did not have their height, weight or both measured. For these respondents, imputation was used to obtain height, weight and BMI scores.
Underweight (less than 18.50)
Normal range (18.50–19.99)
Normal range (20.00–24.99)
Total Normal range (18.50–24.99)
Overweight (25.00–29.99)
Obesity class I (30.00–34.99)
Obesity class II (35.00–39.99)
Obesity class III (40.00 or more)
Total Obese (30.00 or more)
Total Overweight / Obese (25.00 or more)
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Australian Bureau of Statistics. (December 12, 2018). Distribution of the adult population in Australia in financial year 2018, by body mass index range [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171940/australia-share-of-adults-by-bmi-range/
Australian Bureau of Statistics. "Distribution of the adult population in Australia in financial year 2018, by body mass index range." Chart. December 12, 2018. Statista. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171940/australia-share-of-adults-by-bmi-range/
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2018). Distribution of the adult population in Australia in financial year 2018, by body mass index range. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 23, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171940/australia-share-of-adults-by-bmi-range/
Australian Bureau of Statistics. "Distribution of The Adult Population in Australia in Financial Year 2018, by Body Mass Index Range." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Dec 2018, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171940/australia-share-of-adults-by-bmi-range/
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Distribution of the adult population in Australia in financial year 2018, by body mass index range Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171940/australia-share-of-adults-by-bmi-range/ (last visited February 23, 2025)
Distribution of the adult population in Australia in financial year 2018, by body mass index range [Graph], Australian Bureau of Statistics, December 12, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171940/australia-share-of-adults-by-bmi-range/
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