About 1 in 5 US adults reported chronic pain in 2016, with a prevalence rate of 20.9%. Worldwide, an estimated 1.71 billion people had musculoskeletal conditions in 2019, many of which drive chronic pain. Later sections quantify how that burden translates into limited access and uneven treatment use.
Key Takeaways
- 20.9% (about 1 in 5) of adults reported chronic pain in 2016 (U.S.)
- 1.71 billion people worldwide were estimated to have musculoskeletal conditions in 2019 (which includes many chronic pain drivers)
- 19% of adults with chronic pain reported using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for pain (U.S.) in 2022
- In the UK, 33% of chronic pain patients reported their condition affected work strongly/very strongly (2019)
- In a 2020 systematic review, geographic barriers were among top reasons for delayed pain care access (reported across studies)
- Racial/ethnic disparities exist in opioid prescribing intensity for chronic non-cancer pain in the U.S. (study reports statistically significant differences)
- In the U.S., chronic pain accounts for 3.0% of total health care spending (2013 estimate)
- EU-27+UK countries spent €200+ billion annually on low back and neck pain in a 2022 review (health system costs)
- Cost-of-illness estimates for chronic pain are typically dominated by health care spending plus productivity losses (systematic review citing consistent patterns)
- In a 2019 meta-analysis, interdisciplinary rehabilitation improved pain-related disability with a standardized mean difference of about 0.4 (moderate effect)
- In a 2018 systematic review, multidisciplinary pain management decreased pain intensity by ~0.6 SMD (moderate)
- In a 2022 network meta-analysis, spinal cord stimulation showed meaningful benefit for chronic neuropathic pain with responder rates reported (trial-level)
About 1 in 5 U.S. adults report chronic pain, and evidence shows therapies like CBT, rehab, and mindfulness can meaningfully help.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence & Burden2 stats
01
20.9% (about 1 in 5) of adults reported chronic pain in 2016 (U.S.)
02
1.71 billion people worldwide were estimated to have musculoskeletal conditions in 2019 (which includes many chronic pain drivers)
Interpretation
Prevalence & Burden Interpretation
Prevalence & Burden data show that about 1 in 5 U.S. adults reported chronic pain in 2016 at 20.9%, while worldwide musculoskeletal conditions affecting many chronic pain drivers reached an estimated 1.71 billion people in 2019.
02 · Category
Treatment & Care1 stats
01
19% of adults with chronic pain reported using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for pain (U.S.) in 2022
Interpretation
Treatment & Care Interpretation
In 2022, just 19% of US adults with chronic pain used cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), suggesting that this evidence-based treatment remains underutilized within the Treatment & Care landscape.
03 · Category
Access & Disparities6 stats
01
In the UK, 33% of chronic pain patients reported their condition affected work strongly/very strongly (2019)
02
In a 2020 systematic review, geographic barriers were among top reasons for delayed pain care access (reported across studies)
03
Racial/ethnic disparities exist in opioid prescribing intensity for chronic non-cancer pain in the U.S. (study reports statistically significant differences)
04
Low socioeconomic status is associated with higher chronic pain prevalence in multiple U.S. analyses (NIH review quantifies gradient)
05
In the U.S., uninsured adults have higher rates of unmet need for chronic pain care (MEPS analysis reports measurable differences)
06
In 2020, 64% of people with chronic pain in Canada reported at least one barrier to care (survey-based)
Interpretation
Access & Disparities Interpretation
Across countries, access barriers to chronic pain care disproportionately affect people, with 64% of Canadians reporting at least one barrier in 2020 and 33% of UK patients saying their condition strongly affected work, while U.S. data also shows disparities linked to race and uninsured status and a clear socioeconomic gradient.
More related reading
04 · Category
Economic Impact5 stats
01
In the U.S., chronic pain accounts for 3.0% of total health care spending (2013 estimate)
02
EU-27+UK countries spent €200+ billion annually on low back and neck pain in a 2022 review (health system costs)
03
Cost-of-illness estimates for chronic pain are typically dominated by health care spending plus productivity losses (systematic review citing consistent patterns)
04
UK NHS spending on pain management services totals ~£1.0 billion annually for selected pain conditions (2015/2016 costing analysis)
05
Canada’s estimated annual cost of chronic pain was CAD $7.7 billion (2013 estimate)
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
Economic impact is substantial and recurring, with chronic pain driving major health system costs such as 3.0% of all US health care spending in 2013 and Europe spending over €200 billion every year on low back and neck pain, alongside country-specific totals like the UK’s roughly £1.0 billion for pain management services and Canada’s estimated CAD $7.7 billion annually.
05 · Category
Outcomes & Evidence8 stats
01
In a 2019 meta-analysis, interdisciplinary rehabilitation improved pain-related disability with a standardized mean difference of about 0.4 (moderate effect)
02
In a 2018 systematic review, multidisciplinary pain management decreased pain intensity by ~0.6 SMD (moderate)
03
In a 2022 network meta-analysis, spinal cord stimulation showed meaningful benefit for chronic neuropathic pain with responder rates reported (trial-level)
04
In a 2019 observational study, patients receiving opioid tapering under guidance had 44% lower risk of opioid-related harms than those continuing opioids (relative estimate)
05
In a 2021 systematic review, telehealth interventions for chronic pain improved pain outcomes with a pooled effect size (meta-analysis)
06
In a 2022 randomized trial, mindfulness-based stress reduction reduced pain catastrophizing scores by ~5 points (scale-dependent; trial-reported)
07
In a 2020 meta-analysis, mindfulness interventions showed small improvements in pain interference and quality of life (pooled effects)
08
In a 2017 systematic review, acupuncture for chronic pain reduced pain intensity with an average standardized effect around SMD 0.5 (meta-analysis)
Interpretation
Outcomes & Evidence Interpretation
Across Outcomes and Evidence, multiple evidence syntheses show clinically meaningful improvements from structured nonpharmacologic care, including interdisciplinary rehabilitation and multidisciplinary programs reducing pain-related disability by about 0.4 to 0.6 SMD, with telehealth and mindfulness also improving key pain metrics such as catastrophizing by roughly 5 points in trials.
report visual · Comparison
Chronic pain prevalence and care impact
A substantial share of adults report chronic pain, and reported barriers to care are common.
In 2020, 64% of people with chronic pain in Canada reported at least one barrier to care (survey-based)64%
20.9% (about 1 in 5) of adults reported chronic pain in 2016 (U.S.)
20.9%
1.71 billion people worldwide were estimated to have musculoskeletal conditions in 2019 (which includes many chronic pai
1.71
source-verifiedcdc.gov · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · thelancet.com2020
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). Chronic Pain Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/chronic-pain-statistics
MLA
Elif Demirci. "Chronic Pain Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/chronic-pain-statistics.
Chicago
Elif Demirci. 2026. "Chronic Pain Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/chronic-pain-statistics.
Sources & references
22 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+14 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)