Health Info
In this section
Metabolic health in numbers
15.5%
Diabetes, adults 30+
~5.33 million, 1 in 6.5
KDA 2024 (2021–22 data)
41.1%
Prediabetes, adults 30+
~14.1 million, 4 in 10
KDA 2024 (2021–22 data)
39.5%
Adult obesity (BMI≥25)
Men 49.1%
KDCA, KNHANES 2025
24.9%
Metabolic syndrome, adults
1 in 4 adults aged 19+
KDCA (2019–21 data)
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes, adults 30+ | 15.5% | KDA 2024 (2021–22) |
| Prediabetes, adults 30+ | 41.1% | KDA 2024 (2021–22) |
| Diabetes awareness | 74.7% | KDA 2024 |
| Adult obesity (BMI≥25) | 39.5% | KDCA, KNHANES 2025 |
| Abdominal obesity | 24.9% | KSSO 2026 (2024) |
| Adults meeting aerobic activity guideline | 49.5% | KDCA, KNHANES 2025 |
| Adults with diabetes worldwide | 589 million | IDF Diabetes Atlas 11th ed. |
| Adults with obesity worldwide (BMI≥30) | 940 million | WHO (2024) |
Korean obesity is defined as BMI ≥25; WHO uses BMI ≥30. The figures are not directly comparable.
- Korean Diabetes Association, Diabetes Fact Sheets in Korea 2024 (Diabetes Metab J 2025;49:24-33), KNHANES 2021–2022
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), KNHANES 2025 results (Sep 30, 2026)
- Korean Society for the Study of Obesity, Obesity Fact Sheet 2026 (2024 data) — as reported by the press
- International Diabetes Federation, IDF Diabetes Atlas 11th ed. (2025)
- WHO, Obesity and overweight fact sheet (2024 data)