Diabetes statistics
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers for "diabetes statistics"
Global Diabetes Prevalence and Incidence Statistics
Diabetes is a major and growing public health challenge worldwide. In 2022, an estimated 828 million adults globally had diabetes, a dramatic increase from 1990, with the largest rises seen in low- and middle-income countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. The age-standardized prevalence of diabetes increased in 131 countries for women and 155 countries for men during this period. The highest prevalence rates in 2022 were found in Polynesia, Micronesia, the Caribbean, the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, and Malaysia, while the lowest were in Western Europe and East Africa. Notably, 445 million adults aged 30 or older with diabetes did not receive treatment in 2022, highlighting a significant gap in care, especially in low-income regions where treatment coverage can be less than 10%.
For type 1 diabetes specifically, the global incidence is about 15 per 100,000 people, and the prevalence is approximately 9.5%. Both incidence and prevalence of type 1 diabetes are increasing worldwide, which poses challenges for access to insulin, particularly in underdeveloped and developing countries.
Diabetes Prevalence and Trends in the United States
In the United States, the prevalence of total diabetes among adults was 15.8% between August 2021 and August 2023, with 11.3% diagnosed and 4.5% undiagnosed. The prevalence is higher in men than women and increases with age and weight status. From 1999-2000 to 2021-2023, the age-adjusted prevalence of total diabetes rose from 9.7% to 14.3%. Diagnosed diabetes increased from 5.9% to 10.1% in the same period, while undiagnosed rates remained relatively stable.
Looking at diabetes by type, in 2016, 0.55% of U.S. adults had diagnosed type 1 diabetes (about 1.3 million people), and 8.6% had diagnosed type 2 diabetes (about 21 million people). Of all diagnosed cases, 5.8% were type 1 and 90.9% were type 2.
Trends show that after a significant increase in diabetes prevalence and incidence from 1990 to 2009, the rates plateaued and incidence began to decrease after 2007, particularly among non-Hispanic whites. However, the overall burden remains high and requires ongoing attention.
Challenges in Diabetes Data and Reporting
Accurate global and national diabetes statistics are difficult to obtain due to inconsistent data collection, varying diagnostic criteria, and underreporting, especially in developing countries. Current estimates likely underestimate the true burden of diabetes. There is a need for international consensus on uniform standards for reporting diabetes prevalence, complications, and mortality to improve monitoring and response efforts.
Diabetes-Related Mortality
Diabetes is a significant cause of premature mortality. In 2010, diabetes was estimated to be responsible for 3.96 million excess deaths worldwide among people aged 20–79, accounting for 6.8% of all global deaths. The proportion of deaths due to diabetes varies by region, from 6% in Africa to 15.7% in North America. Diabetes-related mortality is higher in women than men beyond age 49 in all regions.
Conclusion
Diabetes prevalence and incidence are rising globally, with the greatest increases in low- and middle-income countries. In the U.S., diabetes affects over 15% of adults, with type 2 diabetes being the most common. Despite some recent stabilization in incidence rates, the overall burden remains high. Accurate data collection and expanded access to treatment are critical to addressing the growing impact of diabetes worldwide3456+3 MORE.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic