Vaccine hesitancy is a global public health challenge, with rates and causes varying by country, community, and vaccine type. Across the COVID-19 era, hesitancy has shifted and clustered in specific groups—sometimes fueled by side-effect concerns or mistrust—rather than spreading evenly. Explore vaccine hesitancy statistics across age groups, from childhood vaccines to adolescent and routine immunization.
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
Across countries, COVID-19 and routine vaccine hesitancy remains high, fueled 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
Across Covid 19, vaccine hesitancy remains substantial worldwide, ranging from 25% in Brazil’s urban areas to as high as 60% in Russia, with major drivers tied to concerns and mistrust such as 44% of unvaccinated US adults worried about side effects and 40% of South Africans citing mistrust.
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
Across childhood vaccines, hesitancy appears widespread but uneven by country, with figures ranging from 12% in rural India in 2020 to as high as 41% MMR hesitancy in France in 2016, suggesting that local concerns rather than a uniform global pattern are driving reluctance.
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
Under the Global Trends lens, WHO data shows that vaccine hesitancy rose by 20% worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring how quickly global attitudes can shift in response to major health shocks.
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
Across Hpv vaccination efforts, hesitancy remains a major barrier, with rejection and undercoverage staying high such as 40% refusal at US initiation in 2019 and only 70% coverage in Australian boys by 2019, even as targeted campaigns in the UK helped bring hesitancy down to 15% by 2022.
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
Across influenza vaccine data, hesitancy ranges widely from 15% in Australia’s general population in 2022 to 35% among Japan’s elderly pre-2020, with several high figures clustering in vulnerable groups such as healthcare workers at 22% in the UK and pregnant women at 32% in 2019.
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 in the Other Vaccines category is especially high and persistent, ranging from 25% to 70% across countries and years, with the sharpest spikes reaching 70% for polio in Somalia in 2021 and 50% for polio in Nigeria’s northern regions in 2019.
Reference
Cite This Report
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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