Diabetes affects 830 million people worldwide | More than half are not connected to treatment

In November 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) released new estimates on diabetes worldwide. The estimates are based on a study published in the British medical journal The Lancet (a joint study with NCD-RisC) and track changes by country from 1990 to 2022.

About a fourfold increase in 32 years

According to WHO’s fact sheet, the number of people living with diabetes increased from 200 million in 1990 to 830 million in 2022. The rise in prevalence is progressing faster in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.

Figures presented by WHO
・People with diabetes: 200 million (1990) → 830 million (2022)
・People aged 30 and over who are not receiving treatment: about 450 million (about 59% of adults with diabetes)
・The number of untreated people has increased by about 3.5 times since 1990

The challenge of people “not being connected to treatment”

What drew particular attention in the estimates was access to treatment. In 2022, among adults aged 30 and over with diabetes, about 450 million people, or roughly 59%, were not receiving treatment. The number of people not receiving treatment has increased by about 3.5 times since 1990, and many are concentrated in low- and middle-income countries.

WHO indicates that diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, and lower-limb amputation, and says that in 2021, more than 2 million people died from diabetes and diabetes-related kidney disease. It also lists healthy eating, regular physical activity, maintaining an appropriate body weight, and avoiding tobacco as ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Related global statistics

WHO’s estimates also overlap with other statistics related to lifestyle habits. 1 billion people worldwide are living with obesity, 1 in 3 adults worldwide is not physically active enough, 1.4 billion people worldwide have hypertension Please read these articles as well.

Reference: World Health Organization (WHO), NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) / The Lancet

※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