The global prevalence of diabetes has witnessed an alarming upward trend over the past three decades, evolving into a major public health challenge that exhibits striking regional disparities and is closely linked to multiple risk factors. Data reveals a dramatic surge in both the number of patients and the prevalence rate worldwide.
Back in 1990, there were roughly 198 million adults with diabetes globally, with a prevalence rate of around 7%. By 2022, this number had soared to 828 million, accounting for approximately 14% of the adult population—more than quadrupling the figure from 1990. Both genders have been severely affected: the prevalence rate among adult males jumped from 6.8% to 14.3%, while that among females rose from 6.9% to 13.9% during the same period. Notably, different studies have slight variations in statistics for specific years. Another research published in The Lancet indicated there were 529 million diabetes patients worldwide in 2021, with an age – standardized prevalence rate of 6.1%, and this number is projected to skyrocket to 1.31 billion by 2050. Meanwhile, the International Diabetes Federation predicts that by 2050, 1 out of every 8 adults globally, about 853 million people, will be living with diabetes, marking a 46% increase compared to the current situationInternational Diabetes Federation.
This growth trend is highly uneven across regions. Most low – and middle – income countries have experienced the sharpest increases. For instance, the prevalence rate among women in Pakistan surged from 9.0% in 1990 to 30.9% in 2022. Regions such as Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and Pacific island nations have also seen staggering prevalence rates, with over 25% of the population suffering from diabetes in some areasWorld Health Organization (WHO). In contrast, the prevalence rate in several high – income countries has remained stable or even slightly declined over the past 30 years. In 2022, the prevalence rate among women in countries like France, Denmark, and Spain was as low as 2% – 4%. Among industrialized high – income countries, the United States has a relatively high prevalence rate, with 13.6% for men and 11.4% for women in 2022.
The soaring prevalence of diabetes is predominantly driven by the rising incidence of type 2 diabetes, which is closely associated with risk factors such as obesity, unhealthy diets, and lack of physical activity. It is estimated that 49.6% of the increase in diabetes prevalence can be attributed to the growing obesity trend globally. Additionally, the expanding global treatment gap exacerbates the impact of this epidemic. In 2022, approximately 445 million adults aged 30 and above with diabetes worldwide did not receive proper treatment, which was 3.5 times the number in 1990World Health Organization (WHO). Over 90% of diabetes patients in sub – Saharan Africa and some South Asian countries had no access to medication treatment. While some high – income countries and certain middle – income countries have significantly improved their diabetes treatment rates, the disparity in treatment coverage between the highest – and lowest – performing countries continues to widen, further straining the global fight against diabetes.
