By 2050, 1 in 4 people will experience hearing difficulties | WHO estimates on hearing

In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its first World report on hearing. Its estimates indicate that by 2050, around 2.5 billion people—one in four people will have some degree of hearing difficulty.

430 million people currently need care

According to the WHO fact sheet, more than 5% of the global population— 430 million people. Of these, 34 million are children. By 2050, this number is expected to rise to more than 700 million people, or one in ten.

About 80% of people with hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries. More than 25% of people over 60 are affected, and the number will increase as populations age.

Key WHO figures on hearing
・Hearing loss that affects daily life: 430 million people (including 34 million children)
・2050 estimate: around 2.5 billion people will have some degree of hearing difficulty, and more than 700 million will need care
・About 60% of hearing loss in children is due to preventable causes
・Economic losses without action: approximately US$1 trillion per year

Pay attention to how younger generations listen, too

WHO notes that more than 1 billion young adults are at risk of avoidable hearing loss due to such factors as listening to loud sounds for long periods through earbuds or headphones. It also states that about 60% of hearing loss in children is due to preventable causes, including the prevention of infectious diseases.

WHO estimates that additional investment to expand ear and hearing care would cost less than US$1.4 per person per year and could yield a return of about US$16 for every US$1 over 10 years. It has designated March 3 each year as World Hearing Day and calls on countries to promote screenings and safe listening. For the state of vision worldwide, see WHO’s SPECS 2030; for ageing and health, see Global ageing as presented by WHO introduced here.

Sources: World Health Organization (WHO), fact sheet “Deafness and hearing loss” and “World report on hearing” (2021)

※This article introduces statistics and system information published by public institutions and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any specific disease. If you have health concerns, please consult a medical institution.

—The Value Village Editorial Team