Every five seconds, someone in the world dies from diabetes, a stark reality underscoring the global epidemic that saw 537 million adults living with the condition in 2021.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, approximately 537 million adults aged 20-79 years (10.5% prevalence) were living with diabetes worldwide
- Globally, diabetes caused 6.7 million deaths in 2021, equivalent to one death every 5 seconds
- The global prevalence of diabetes in adults aged 20-79 years rose from 7% in 2019 to 10.5% in 2021
- In 2021, the Middle East and North Africa had the highest regional diabetes prevalence at 12.2%
- Europe had a diabetes prevalence of 6.9% among adults aged 20-79 in 2021 (61 million cases)
- In the Western Pacific region, 206 million adults (11.0%) had diabetes in 2021
- In the United States, 38.4 million people (11.6% of population) had diabetes in 2021
- In China, 140.9 million adults (10.6%) had diabetes in 2021
- India had 77 million diabetes cases (8.7%) among adults 20-79 in 2021
- In the US, diabetes prevalence among non-Hispanic Blacks was 12.7% in 2021
- Globally, women aged 20-79 had 10.9% diabetes prevalence vs 10.1% in men in 2021
- In adults aged 65-79, global diabetes prevalence was 19.5% in 2021
- Globally, diabetes projected to affect 783 million adults by 2045, up from 537 million in 2021
- Global diabetes prevalence expected to rise to 12.2% by 2045
- Diabetes cases worldwide increased 16% from 2019 to 2021
Diabetes affects one in ten adults globally, a prevalence that has doubled since 1990.
Country-Specific Statistics
- In the United States, 38.4 million people (11.6% of population) had diabetes in 2021
- In China, 140.9 million adults (10.6%) had diabetes in 2021
- India had 77 million diabetes cases (8.7%) among adults 20-79 in 2021
- Brazil reported 20.8 million diabetes cases (11.0%) in 2021
- Pakistan’s diabetes prevalence was 30.8% (33 million adults) in 2021
- In Mexico, 15.3 million adults (14.6%) had diabetes in 2021
- Germany had a diabetes prevalence of 7.6% (5.3 million cases) in 2021
- Japan’s diabetes cases numbered 11 million (7.9%) in adults 20-79 in 2021
- Egypt prevalence was 20.9% (15 million adults) in 2021
- United Kingdom had 4.4 million diagnosed diabetes cases (7.0%) in 2021
- Indonesia reported 19.5 million diabetes cases (10.6%) in 2021
- Russia’s diabetes prevalence was 6.0% (6.8 million) in 2021
- Bangladesh had 13.3 million cases (13.0%) in 2021
- Turkey prevalence was 14.7% (8.1 million adults) in 2021
- France had 3.7 million diabetes cases (5.6%) in 2021
- Nigeria’s prevalence was 5.7% (5.8 million) in 2021
- Iran reported 5.5 million cases (7.0%) in 2021
- Thailand had 5.5 million diabetes cases (8.2%) in 2021
- South Africa prevalence was 12.7% (4.2 million) in 2021
- Italy’s diabetes prevalence was 6.5% (3.4 million) in 2021
- Philippines had 4.3 million cases (5.0%) in 2021
- Saudi Arabia prevalence was 18.3% (5.1 million) in 2021
- Spain had 2.9 million diabetes cases (6.2%) in 2021
- Vietnam reported 4.0 million cases (5.0%) in 2021
- Algeria prevalence was 10.6% (3.4 million) in 2021
- Canada had 3.6 million diabetes cases (9.3%) in 2021
Country-Specific Statistics Interpretation
It seems humanity's sweet tooth has staged a global coup, with nations like Pakistan and Egypt showing that sugar can be a bitter ruler indeed.
Demographic Statistics
- In the US, diabetes prevalence among non-Hispanic Blacks was 12.7% in 2021
- Globally, women aged 20-79 had 10.9% diabetes prevalence vs 10.1% in men in 2021
- In adults aged 65-79, global diabetes prevalence was 19.5% in 2021
- Urban adults worldwide had 12.1% diabetes prevalence compared to 8.1% rural in 2021
- In the US, Hispanic adults had 13.0% diabetes prevalence in 2021
- Globally, obesity doubles diabetes risk, with 14% of adults obese having diabetes in 2021
- US adults aged 65+ had 29.2% diabetes prevalence in 2021
- Women with gestational diabetes have 50% risk of type 2 diabetes within 5-10 years
- In low-income countries, diabetes prevalence in poorest quintile was 4.1% vs 7.2% richest in 2021
- US non-Hispanic Asian adults diabetes prevalence was 9.5% in 2021
- Globally, indigenous populations have up to 2x higher diabetes prevalence
- In Europe, elderly (75+) diabetes prevalence was 25.4% in 2021
- US men had 12.1% diabetes prevalence vs 11.2% women in 2021
- Children with type 1 diabetes incidence highest in Finland at 64.2 per 100,000 in 2021
- Globally, South Asian ethnicity has 2-4x higher type 2 diabetes risk
- In Africa, urban women diabetes prevalence 7.5% vs 2.5% rural women in 2021
- US adults with BMI >=30 had 15.4% diabetes prevalence in 2021
- Pregnant women in high-income countries had 20.5% hyperglycaemia prevalence in 2021
- Globally, 50-70% higher diabetes prevalence in Pacific Islanders
- In India, rural diabetes prevalence 8.0% vs urban 15.5% in adults in 2021
- US Native American adults diabetes rate 13.0% in 2021
- Globally, diabetes prevalence rises sharply after age 40, from 4.1% (40-49) to 23.3% (70-79) in 2021
- In China, male diabetes prevalence 11.5% vs female 9.9% in 2021
- Low birth weight increases type 2 diabetes risk by 2x in adulthood
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
If you live in the U.S., are over 65, and identify as Hispanic or Black, your chances of having diabetes are statistically higher than a coin flip for heads, revealing a stark intersection of age, ethnicity, and geography in this global health crisis.
Global Statistics
- In 2021, approximately 537 million adults aged 20-79 years (10.5% prevalence) were living with diabetes worldwide
- Globally, diabetes caused 6.7 million deaths in 2021, equivalent to one death every 5 seconds
- The global prevalence of diabetes in adults aged 20-79 years rose from 7% in 2019 to 10.5% in 2021
- In 2021, 46% of adults with diabetes worldwide (about 247 million) were undiagnosed
- Global diabetes-related health expenditure reached USD 966 billion in 2021
- Diabetes prevalence among adults globally is projected to reach 643 million by 2030
- In low- and middle-income countries, 79% of adults with diabetes live, representing 425 million people in 2021
- Globally, type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes cases among adults aged 20-79
- The age-adjusted global prevalence of diabetes increased from 4.7% in 1980 to 9.3% in 2019
- In 2021, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions accounted for 60% of global diabetes cases
- Worldwide, 1 in 10 adults aged 20-79 (537 million) had diabetes in 2021, with prevalence doubling since 1990
- Global undiagnosed diabetes prevalence was 46.1% in 2021, affecting 240.8 million adults
- Diabetes prevalence in urban areas globally was 12.1% compared to 8.1% in rural areas in 2021
- Globally, men had a diabetes prevalence of 10.1% and women 10.9% in adults aged 20-79 in 2021
- The global economic burden of diabetes was USD 1.3 trillion in lost productivity in 2021
- In 2021, hyperglycaemia in pregnancy affected 21.1 million women globally (16.7%)
- Global diabetes prevalence among adults aged 65-79 was 19.5% in 2021
- Type 1 diabetes affects about 8.4 million people globally, or 1.6% of all diabetes cases
- Globally, diabetes-related kidney disease affects 40% of people with diabetes
- In 2021, the global prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance was 14.1% (541 million adults)
- Worldwide, diabetes prevalence is highest in the 60-79 age group at 23.3% in 2021
- Global diabetes mortality rate was 12.2% of all deaths in adults aged 20-79 in 2021
- In 2021, 3.9 million children and adolescents under 20 had type 1 diabetes globally
- Global prevalence of diabetes has increased by 112% since 1990
- Diabetes accounts for 13% of all deaths worldwide among adults 20-79 years
- Globally, 90% of diabetes cases are type 2, with prevalence 10.5% in 2021
- In 2021, low-income countries had diabetes prevalence of 5.8%
- Global diabetes health expenditure per person was USD 1,107 in high-income countries vs USD 771 in low/middle-income
- Worldwide, obesity-related diabetes cases numbered 136 million in 2021
Global Statistics Interpretation
While diabetes stealthily claims a life every five seconds, its staggering $966 billion price tag and rapid spread—doubling in thirty years—reveal a global health crisis we can no longer afford to ignore or under-diagnose.
Regional Statistics
- In 2021, the Middle East and North Africa had the highest regional diabetes prevalence at 12.2%
- Europe had a diabetes prevalence of 6.9% among adults aged 20-79 in 2021 (61 million cases)
- In the Western Pacific region, 206 million adults (11.0%) had diabetes in 2021
- Africa’s diabetes prevalence was 4.5% in 2021, affecting 24 million adults
- South-East Asia region reported 90 million diabetes cases (9.4%) in 2021
- In the Americas, diabetes prevalence was 11.6% (62 million adults) in 2021
- Eastern Mediterranean region had 73 million diabetes cases (12.2%) in 2021
- Europe’s undiagnosed diabetes rate was 35.5% in 2021
- In Africa, diabetes prevalence in urban areas was 6.1% vs 2.9% rural in 2021
- Western Pacific region’s diabetes expenditure was USD 318 billion in 2021
- South-East Asia had the highest number of diabetes deaths at 2.1 million in 2021
- Americas region diabetes prevalence among women was 12.0% in 2021
- In Europe, men’s diabetes prevalence was 7.1% vs women’s 6.7% in 2021
- Africa’s diabetes cases projected to double to 55 million by 2045
- Eastern Mediterranean undiagnosed diabetes was 49.2% in 2021
- Western Pacific rural diabetes prevalence was 8.4% in 2021
- South-East Asia diabetes prevalence in ages 60-79 was 22.5% in 2021
- Europe’s type 2 diabetes prevalence was 6.5% in 2021
- Americas obesity-attributable diabetes cases were 28 million in 2021
- Africa’s diabetes health expenditure was USD 11 billion in 2021
Regional Statistics Interpretation
The statistics paint a grim global portrait where the disease is most rampant in the Middle East and North Africa, most fatal in South-East Asia, most expensive in the Western Pacific, and most shrouded in ignorance in the Eastern Mediterranean, revealing a crisis where the only thing outpacing the rise in cases is the collective cost of managing them.
Trends and Projections
- Globally, diabetes projected to affect 783 million adults by 2045, up from 537 million in 2021
- Global diabetes prevalence expected to rise to 12.2% by 2045
- Diabetes cases worldwide increased 16% from 2019 to 2021
- By 2045, undiagnosed diabetes globally projected at 357 million
- Global diabetes health expenditure forecasted to reach USD 1 trillion by 2045
- Diabetes deaths globally projected to increase by 44% by 2045
- In low/middle-income countries, diabetes cases to rise 134% by 2045
- Global type 2 diabetes prevalence trend: 6.1% in 2000 to 10.5% in 2021
- By 2030, 643 million adults expected to have diabetes worldwide
- Africa’s diabetes cases projected from 24 million in 2021 to 55 million by 2045
- US diabetes prevalence increased from 9.7% in 2010 to 11.6% in 2021
- Global obesity prevalence rose from 12.8% in 1990 to 16.0% in 2021, driving diabetes trends
- Diabetes-related spending globally up 350% since 2000, projected higher by 2045
- By 2045, Middle East/North Africa diabetes prevalence to 16.6%
- Global impaired glucose tolerance projected to 822 million by 2045
- Western Pacific diabetes cases to increase 44% by 2045 to 296 million
- US undiagnosed diabetes steady at 21.2% but absolute numbers rising to 8 million in 2021
- Global diabetes in children (type 1) projected to rise 10% by 2045
- South-East Asia diabetes prevalence to 10.8% by 2045 from 9.4% in 2021
- Europe’s diabetes cases stable but aging population to push to 71 million by 2045
- Americas diabetes projected 108 million cases by 2045, up 74% from 2021
- Global hyperglycaemia in pregnancy to affect 28.5 million women by 2045
- Diabetes mortality in low-income countries up 50% since 2010, trend continuing
- China diabetes cases to 165 million by 2045 from 140.9 million in 2021
- India projected 134 million diabetes cases by 2045
- Global urban diabetes prevalence to 13.5% by 2045
- Type 1 diabetes global incidence increasing 3-4% annually
Trends and Projections Interpretation
Our collective sweet tooth for inaction is fueling a bitter, trillion-dollar pandemic that is quietly rewriting humanity's future, one devastating statistic at a time.