According to an analysis of 460 million lipid tests taken in 17 countries across five continents, South Korea takes the crown for the lowest LDL (or 'bad') cholesterol levels.
Published in the European Heart Journal in 2023, the research paints a varied picture of cholesterol levels around the world, reinforcing the idea that cultural norms, like diets and exercise patterns, can affect the average citizen's risk of heart disease.
The Korean population likely benefits from a diet rich in fermented foods and legumes. The diet is also low in saturated fat, which studies have shown can actively reduce a person’s total blood cholesterol.
Other countries with a lower-than-average cholesterol score included Turkey and (perhaps surprisingly, as the birthplace of fast food) the US.
Meanwhile, the two countries with the highest cholesterol levels were Austria and Germany, with Japan, Australia and Switzerland ranking just below.
Higher consumption of animal fats and dairy products are likely contributors in countries where cholesterol is high, but it’s not the only factor. Genetics can play a part, too.
In Austria, for example, around 1 in 300 people have a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia, an inherited genetic disorder which significantly increases the likelihood of high LDL cholesterol levels.
Scientists have also noticed broad shifts in cholesterol levels over time. A 2020 paper looked at trends between 1980 and 2018.
The team found that in many high-income Western nations, cholesterol levels declined steeply, in line with dietary improvements and the use of statins and other cholesterol-lowering medications.
In many low- and middle-income countries, however, cholesterol levels rose, particularly in Asia. Researchers reported that China had one of the lowest rates in 1980, but had one of the largest rates of increase by 2018.
In virtually all countries, cholesterol levels are also higher in men than they are in women.
This article is an answer to the question (asked by Zoe Grant, Winchester) 'Which country in the world has the lowest cholesterol levels?'
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