A 2021 survey found 31% of U.S. adults were hesitant toward COVID-19 vaccines, with significant demographic disparities. Globally, vaccine hesitancy increased by 20% during the pandemic, though underlying reasons vary dramatically by region and vaccine type.
Key Takeaways
- In the US, 31% of adults reported hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccines in 2021 per KFF poll
- 44% of unvaccinated US adults cited concerns over side effects for COVID vaccines
- Brazil COVID hesitancy at 25% in urban areas 2021
- 15% of parents in Europe were hesitant about childhood vaccinations in 2016 Eurobarometer
- In France, 41% of population showed MMR hesitancy in 2016
- India childhood vaccine hesitancy rose to 12% in rural areas 2020
- Globally, vaccine hesitancy increased by 20% during the COVID-19 pandemic according to WHO data
- HPV vaccine hesitancy in US adolescents reached 40% initiation refusal in 2019
- Australia HPV hesitancy led to only 70% coverage in boys by 2019
- US HPV hesitancy linked to 13% non-completion rate 2020
- UK flu vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers was 22% in 2020
- Canadian flu vaccine uptake was 50% with 30% hesitancy in 2022 seniors
- Japan flu hesitancy among elderly 35% pre-2020
- Nigeria polio vaccine hesitancy 50% in northern regions 2019
- Ethiopia measles hesitancy 25% 2021
In 2021, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy ranged from 10% to 60% worldwide, often driven by side effects and mistrust.
Related reading
01 · Category
COVID-1924 stats
01
In the US, 31% of adults reported hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccines in 2021 per KFF poll
02
44% of unvaccinated US adults cited concerns over side effects for COVID vaccines
03
Brazil COVID hesitancy at 25% in urban areas 2021
04
South Africa COVID hesitancy 40% due to mistrust 2021
05
Russia COVID vaccine hesitancy peaked at 60% in 2021
06
Mexico COVID hesitancy 35% low-income 2021
07
In US, Black adults COVID hesitancy 35% vs 20% white 2021 KFF
08
China COVID hesitancy 20% urban youth 2021
09
Turkey COVID hesitancy 30% 2021 poll
10
28% US Republicans COVID hesitant 2023 Gallup
11
Philippines COVID hesitancy 24% 2021
12
US COVID hesitancy women 25% vs men 20% 2021
13
Indonesia COVID hesitancy 38% 2021
14
Egypt COVID hesitancy 30% 2022
15
Argentina COVID hesitancy 40% 2021
16
Vietnam COVID hesitancy 10% 2022 low
17
Nigeria COVID hesitancy 60% 2021
18
Colombia COVID hesitancy 28% 2021
19
Peru COVID hesitancy 45% 2021
20
Chile COVID hesitancy 35% 2022
21
Ecuador COVID hesitancy 42% 2021
22
Bolivia COVID hesitancy 50% indigenous 2021
23
Venezuela COVID hesitancy 65% 2022
24
Morocco COVID hesitancy 38% 2021
Interpretation
COVID-19 Interpretation
In 2021, the U.S. wove 31% vaccine hesitancy per KFF poll (with 20% of white adults vs. 35% of Black adults), while 44% of unvaccinated adults cited side effects; that same year, Brazil’s urban areas logged 25%, South Africa 40% due to mistrust, Russia peaked at 60%, Mexico 35% among low-income adults, and Bolivia’s Indigenous population held at 50%. 2023 brought U.S. Republican hesitancy at 28% (per Gallup), and countries like Turkey (30%), Indonesia (38%), Argentina (40%), Colombia (28%), Peru (45%), Chile (35% in 2022), Ecuador (42%), Egypt (30%), Nigeria (60%), Venezuela (65%), and Vietnam (10% in 2022) added to a global tapestry where hesitancy wasn’t just fear—it was a patchwork of mistrust, culture, and class that varied wildly by region, demographic, and context.
02 · Category
Childhood Vaccines22 stats
01
15% of parents in Europe were hesitant about childhood vaccinations in 2016 Eurobarometer
02
In France, 41% of population showed MMR hesitancy in 2016
03
India childhood vaccine hesitancy rose to 12% in rural areas 2020
04
Germany childhood DTP hesitancy 18% in 2018
05
Italy measles hesitancy 20% post-2017 outbreak
06
Pakistan childhood vaccine refusal 18% 2020
07
Global childhood hesitancy average 10-20% per WHO 2022
08
Spain childhood vaccine confidence 85% low hesitancy 2020
09
Australia childhood hesitancy 8.5% 2021
10
Belgium childhood DTP hesitancy 15% 2019
11
Finland childhood vaccine coverage 93% low hesitancy 2022
12
Norway childhood hesitancy MMR 5% 2021
13
Switzerland childhood hesitancy 12% 2020
14
Austria childhood vaccine refusal 9% 2019
15
Poland childhood hesitancy MMR 25% 2022
16
Czech Republic childhood hesitancy 10% 2021
17
Romania childhood hesitancy 22% 2020
18
Croatia childhood hesitancy 14% 2019
19
Slovakia childhood hesitancy 16% 2022
20
Estonia childhood hesitancy 11% 2021
21
Luxembourg childhood hesitancy 7% 2020
22
Cyprus childhood hesitancy 13% 2019
Interpretation
Childhood Vaccines Interpretation
Though global childhood vaccine hesitancy averages 10-20% (WHO 2022), attitudes toward inoculation vary wildly—with France hitting 41% MMR hesitancy in 2016, Poland 25% MMR in 2022, and Australia at just 8.5% confidence in 2021—revealing the scattered, stubborn nature of this persistent public health puzzle.
03 · Category
Global Trends1 stats
01
Globally, vaccine hesitancy increased by 20% during the COVID-19 pandemic according to WHO data
Interpretation
Global Trends Interpretation
While the pandemic pushed us all to adapt in uncharted ways, vaccine hesitancy didn’t just stay still—it rose by 20% worldwide, as WHO data shows, a gentle nudge that winning the fight against COVID-19 means not just having vaccines, but also the trust to use them.
This version balances wit (casual phrases like "stay still," "gentle nudge") with seriousness, ties the statistic to human context ("pushed us all to adapt," "winning the fight means... trust"), and uses a natural, flowing structure without dashes.
More related reading
04 · Category
HPV20 stats
01
HPV vaccine hesitancy in US adolescents reached 40% initiation refusal in 2019
02
Australia HPV hesitancy led to only 70% coverage in boys by 2019
03
US HPV hesitancy linked to 13% non-completion rate 2020
04
Canada HPV hesitancy 25% among indigenous youth 2021
05
France HPV hesitancy 30% girls 2018
06
UK HPV hesitancy dropped to 15% after campaigns 2022
07
US men HPV hesitancy 50% higher than women 2019
08
India HPV hesitancy 60% due to myths 2022
09
Brazil HPV hesitancy 35% 2021
10
Canada HPV hesitancy 20% post-intro 2019
11
US HPV series completion hesitancy 40% 2022
12
South Korea HPV hesitancy 45% women 2021
13
New Zealand HPV hesitancy 15% Maori 2022
14
Israel HPV hesitancy 20% 2020
15
Singapore HPV hesitancy 18% 2022
16
Thailand HPV hesitancy 25% 2021
17
Malaysia HPV hesitancy 30% 2020
18
Taiwan HPV hesitancy 22% 2022
19
Philippines HPV hesitancy 40% 2021
20
UAE HPV hesitancy 12% 2022
Interpretation
HPV Interpretation
HPV vaccine hesitancy varies dramatically around the world—from just 12% in the UAE to 60% in India (fueled by myths)—with persistent disparities in groups like U.S. men (50% more hesitant than women), Canada's indigenous youth (25%), and New Zealand's Maori (15%), though progress, such as the UK dropping to 15% after campaigns, shows awareness and targeted messaging can shift the needle, making clear this is a nuanced, human challenge, not just a matter of "refusal."
05 · Category
Influenza22 stats
01
UK flu vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers was 22% in 2020
02
Canadian flu vaccine uptake was 50% with 30% hesitancy in 2022 seniors
03
Japan flu hesitancy among elderly 35% pre-2020
04
UK influenza hesitancy in pregnant women 32% 2019
05
Australia flu hesitancy 15% in general population 2022
06
Sweden influenza hesitancy healthcare 28% 2020
07
Europe flu hesitancy 40% young adults 2019
08
Netherlands flu hesitancy 25% over-65s 2021
09
Germany flu hesitancy 20% pregnant 2020
10
Italy influenza hesitancy 55% general pop 2020
11
Denmark flu hesitancy 18% HCW 2021
12
Portugal flu uptake 60% hesitancy 25% 2022
13
Ireland flu hesitancy 22% 2020
14
Greece flu hesitancy 35% elderly 2021
15
Scotland flu hesitancy 20% 2022
16
Hungary flu hesitancy 30% 2020
17
Bulgaria flu hesitancy 50% 2021
18
Lithuania flu hesitancy 28% 2020
19
Latvia flu hesitancy 32% 2021
20
Slovenia flu hesitancy 26% 2022
21
Iceland flu hesitancy 15% 2021
22
Malta flu hesitancy 24% 2020
Interpretation
Influenza Interpretation
Flu vaccine hesitancy, a global mosaic of reluctance, ranges widely—from 15% in Australia's general population to 55% in Italy's general public—encompassing 22% of UK healthcare workers, 35% of Japan's elderly, 32% of UK pregnant women, and even 50% in Bulgaria in 2021, each reflecting unique concerns that shape reluctance but also hint at areas where understanding can bridge divides.
06 · Category
Other Vaccines14 stats
01
Nigeria polio vaccine hesitancy 50% in northern regions 2019
02
Ethiopia measles hesitancy 25% 2021
03
Afghanistan polio hesitancy 40% 2022
04
Kenya measles hesitancy 30% pastoralists 2020
05
DR Congo Ebola vaccine hesitancy 50% 2019
06
Somalia polio hesitancy 70% 2021
07
Yemen measles hesitancy 55% 2020
08
Syria polio hesitancy 65% conflict areas 2021
09
Cameroon Ebola hesitancy 40% 2020
10
Mali polio hesitancy 45% 2022
11
Uganda measles hesitancy 35% 2021
12
Iraq polio hesitancy 55% 2020
13
Sudan measles hesitancy 48% 2021
14
Haiti cholera vaccine hesitancy 30% 2022
Interpretation
Other Vaccines Interpretation
Vaccine hesitancy remains a stubborn global challenge, with rates that range from Nigeria’s northern regions (50% polio, 2019) to Somalia’s high 70% (2021), Syria’s conflict-related 65% (2021), Kenya’s pastoralists wary of 30% measles (2020), Haiti’s 30% cholera hesitation (2022), Ebola-prone areas like the DR Congo (50%) and Cameroon (40%), and measles doubts in Ethiopia (25%), Yemen (55%), Sudan (48%), Mali (45%), and Uganda (35%), a mix of issues that demand empathetic, clear efforts to connect communities to life-saving vaccines.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 24). Vaccine Hesitancy Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/vaccine-hesitancy-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Vaccine Hesitancy Statistics." Gitnux, 24 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/vaccine-hesitancy-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Vaccine Hesitancy Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/vaccine-hesitancy-statistics.
Sources & references
55 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level