Metabolic Health by the Numbers
The basics of understanding blood glucose, body fat, and metabolic health
Key summary
In Korea, diabetes prevalence among adults aged 30 and older is 15.5% (about 5.33 million people), and prediabetes is 41.1% (about 14.1 million people) (Korean Diabetes Association 2024). Adult obesity prevalence is 39.5% (KDCA 2025), abdominal obesity is 24.9% (KSSO 2026), and metabolic syndrome is 24.9% (KDCA).
Metabolic Health in Numbers
15.5%
Diabetes prevalence, age 30 and older
About 5.33 million people, 1 in 6.5
Korean Diabetes Association 2024 (2021–22 data)
41.1%
Prediabetes, age 30 and older
About 14.1 million people, 4 in 10
Korean Diabetes Association 2024 (2021–22 data)
39.5%
Adult obesity prevalence
BMI 25 or higher; men 49.1%
KDCA 2025 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
24.9%
Adult metabolic syndrome prevalence
1 in 4 adults aged 19 and older
KDCA (2019–21 data)
| Indicator | Figure | Source | Reference year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes prevalence, age 30 and older | 15.5% (about 5.33 million people) | Korean Diabetes Association 2024 | 2021–2022 |
| Prediabetes, age 30 and older | 41.1% (about 14.1 million people) | Korean Diabetes Association 2024 | 2021–2022 |
| Diabetes prevalence, age 65 and older | 29.3% | Korean Diabetes Association 2024 | 2021–2022 |
| Diabetes awareness rate / treatment rate | 74.7% / 70.9% | Korean Diabetes Association 2024 | 2021–2022 |
| Control rate (HbA1c below 6.5%) | 32.4% | Korean Diabetes Association 2024 | 2021–2022 |
| Abdominal obesity among people with diabetes | 61.2% | Korean Diabetes Association 2024 | 2021–2022 |
| Adult obesity prevalence (BMI≥25) | 39.5% (men 49.1%, women 28.7%) | KDCA Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey | 2025 |
| Adult obesity prevalence | 39.2% (men 51.1%, women 27.7%) | KSSO 2026 Fact Sheet | 2024 |
| Abdominal obesity in adults | 24.9% (men 32.4%, women 17.6%) | KSSO 2026 Fact Sheet | 2024 |
| Adult metabolic syndrome | 24.9% (about 47.0% among those 65 and older) | KDCA | 2019–2021 |
| Aerobic physical activity rate | 49.5% | KDCA Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey | 2025 |
| Adults with diabetes worldwide | 589 million people (1 in 9) | IDF Diabetes Atlas, 11th ed. | 2024 estimate |
| Adults with obesity worldwide (BMI≥30) | 940 million people (16%) | WHO | 2024 |
* The obesity criterion in Korea is a BMI of 25 or higher, while the WHO international criterion is a BMI of 30 or higher, so the two cannot be compared directly. KSSO figures are as reported in the media and will be updated when the Society publishes its original report.
- Korean Diabetes Association, Diabetes Fact Sheets in Korea 2024 (Diabetes Metab J 2025;49:24-33), based on Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2021–2022
- KDCA, announcement of 2025 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey results (30 September 2026)
- Korean Society for the Study of Obesity, 2026 Obesity Fact Sheet (2024 data) — figures as reported in the media
- KDCA National Health Information Portal, “Metabolic Syndrome”
- International Diabetes Federation, IDF Diabetes Atlas 11th ed. (2025)
- WHO, Obesity and overweight fact sheet (2024 data)