Around 10.5 percent of the global adult population suffered from diabetes in 2021 - by the year 2045 this number is expected to rise to over 12 percent. Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, refers to a group of metabolic disorders that result in chronic high blood sugar levels. Diabetes can lead to serious health complications, such as cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and stroke and is now among the top ten leading causes of death worldwide.

Prevalence
Diabetes is a global problem affecting a variety of countries. China currently has the largest number of diabetics worldwide with some 141 million people suffering from the disease. However, the highest prevalence of diabetes is found among French Polynesia, Mauritius, and Kuwait. Rates of diabetes have increased in many countries in recent years, as have rates of obesity, one of the leading risk factors for the disease.

Outlook
It is predicted that diabetes will continue to be a problem in the future. Africa is expected to see a 134 percent increase in the number of diabetics in the region from 2021 to 2045, while North America and the Caribbean are expected to see an increase of 24 percent. In 2045, China is predicted to be the country with the highest number of diabetics worldwide, with the United States accounting for the fourth highest number.

In 2022, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in the United States among people aged 18 and over amounted to 8.4 percent.

How many people in the United States have diabetes? It was estimated that in 2022, around 24.4 million people in the United States had been diagnosed with diabetes. The number of people living with diabetes has increased over the past few decades, with only five million people living with diabetes in the year 1980. Diabetes in the United States is more common among older adults with around 24 percent of those aged 65 years and older diagnosed with diabetes, compared to 15 percent of those aged 45 to 64 years.

Leading diabetic states

In 2021, the U.S. states with the highest prevalence of diagnosed diabetes were Alabama, Mississippi, and West Virginia, respectively. Just over 17 percent of adults in Alabama had diabetes that year. Roughly 14 percent of adults in Georgia had been diagnosed with diabetes before or during the measured period, putting the state of Georgia in tenth place.

United States US: Diabetes Prevalence: % of Population Aged 20-79 data was reported at 10.790 % in 2017. United States US: Diabetes Prevalence: % of Population Aged 20-79 data is updated yearly, averaging 10.790 % from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2017, with 1 observations. United States US: Diabetes Prevalence: % of Population Aged 20-79 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Health Statistics. Diabetes prevalence refers to the percentage of people ages 20-79 who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.; ; International Diabetes Federation, Diabetes Atlas.; Weighted average;

In 2021, almost 17 percent of adults between the ages of 20 and 79 had diabetes in Mexico. Other selected countries with a high prevalence of diabetes that year included Turkey, Spain, and the United States. Diabetes is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar levels.

Diabetes worldwide

In 2021, an estimated 10.5 percent of the global adult population had diabetes. In concrete numbers, there were about 537 million diabetic adults (20-79 years) worldwide in 2021, and this total is predicted to grow to approximately 783 million by the year 2045.

Spending per patient

The country that spent the most on patients with diabetes in 2021 was the United States. At this time, providing for a diabetic patient here cost an average of almost 12 thousand U.S. dollars. Switzerland stood in second place, spending about 10,500 U.S. dollars per patient. In the same year, the ten countries by lowest average spending per person with diabetes were all African and Asian countries. The Democratic Republic of Congo had the lowest annual diabetes-related health expenditures per person, with about 156 U.S. dollars.

Indonesia: Diabetes prevalence, percent of population ages 20-79: The latest value from 2021 is 10.6 percent, an increase from 5.1 percent in 2011. In comparison, the world average is 8.60 percent, based on data from 195 countries. Historically, the average for Indonesia from 2011 to 2021 is 7.85 percent. The minimum value, 5.1 percent, was reached in 2011 while the maximum of 10.6 percent was recorded in 2021.

It was estimated that as of 2022 around 24.4 million people in the United States had been diagnosed with diabetes. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. has increased in recent years and the disease is now a major health issue. Diabetes is now the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for three percent of all deaths.

What is prediabetes? A person is considered to have prediabetes if their blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. As of 2021, it was estimated that around 53 million men and 44 million women in the United States had prediabetes. However, according to the CDC, around 80 percent of these people do not know they have this condition. Not only does prediabetes increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. The states with the highest share of adults who had ever been told they have prediabetes are Hawaii, California, and Alaska.

The prevalence of diabetes in the United States As of 2022, around 8.4 percent of adults in the United States had been diagnosed with diabetes, an increase from six percent in the year 2000. Diabetes is much more common among older adults, with almost a quarter of those aged 65 years and older diagnosed with diabetes, compared to just three percent of those aged 18 to 44 years. The states with the highest prevalence of diabetes among adults are Alabama, Mississippi, and West Virginia, while Colorado and Alaska report the lowest rates. In Alabama, around 17 percent of adults have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Diabetes prevalence (% of population ages 20 to 79) in Netherlands was reported at 4.5 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Netherlands - Diabetes prevalence (% of population ages 20 to 79) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Diabetes prevalence (% of population ages 20 to 79) in United States was reported at 10.7 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Diabetes prevalence (% of population ages 20 to 79) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Brazil: Diabetes prevalence, percent of population ages 20-79: The latest value from 2021 is 8.8 percent, a decline from 10.1 percent in 2011. In comparison, the world average is 8.60 percent, based on data from 195 countries. Historically, the average for Brazil from 2011 to 2021 is 9.45 percent. The minimum value, 8.8 percent, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 10.1 percent was recorded in 2011.

Argentina: Diabetes prevalence, percent of population ages 20-79: The latest value from 2021 is 5.4 percent, a decline from 5.5 percent in 2011. In comparison, the world average is 8.60 percent, based on data from 195 countries. Historically, the average for Argentina from 2011 to 2021 is 5.45 percent. The minimum value, 5.4 percent, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 5.5 percent was recorded in 2011.

Vietnam: Diabetes prevalence, percent of population ages 20-79: The latest value from 2021 is 6.1 percent, an increase from 3.2 percent in 2011. In comparison, the world average is 8.60 percent, based on data from 195 countries. Historically, the average for Vietnam from 2011 to 2021 is 4.65 percent. The minimum value, 3.2 percent, was reached in 2011 while the maximum of 6.1 percent was recorded in 2021.

Diabetes prevalence (% of population ages 20 to 79) in Laos was reported at 6.2 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Laos - Diabetes prevalence (% of population ages 20 to 79) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on April of 2025.

Germany DE: Diabetes Prevalence: % of Population Aged 20-79 data was reported at 6.900 % in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.300 % for 2011. Germany DE: Diabetes Prevalence: % of Population Aged 20-79 data is updated yearly, averaging 6.100 % from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2021, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.900 % in 2021 and a record low of 5.300 % in 2011. Germany DE: Diabetes Prevalence: % of Population Aged 20-79 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Diabetes prevalence refers to the percentage of people ages 20-79 who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is calculated by adjusting to a standard population age-structure.;International Diabetes Federation, Diabetes Atlas.;Weighted average;

Aruba: Diabetes prevalence, percent of population ages 20-79: The latest value from 2021 is 4.3 percent, a decline from 12.4 percent in 2011. In comparison, the world average is 8.60 percent, based on data from 195 countries. Historically, the average for Aruba from 2000 to 2021 is 9.6 percent. The minimum value, 4.3 percent, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 12.4 percent was recorded in 2011.

Diabetes prevalence (% of population ages 20 to 79) in China was reported at 10.6 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Diabetes prevalence (% of population ages 20 to 79) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Diabetes prevalence (% of population ages 20 to 79) in Djibouti was reported at 7.4 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Djibouti - Diabetes prevalence (% of population ages 20 to 79) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Georgia GE: Diabetes Prevalence: % of Population Aged 20-79 data was reported at 7.110 % in 2017. Georgia GE: Diabetes Prevalence: % of Population Aged 20-79 data is updated yearly, averaging 7.110 % from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2017, with 1 observations. Georgia GE: Diabetes Prevalence: % of Population Aged 20-79 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Georgia – Table GE.World Bank: Health Statistics. Diabetes prevalence refers to the percentage of people ages 20-79 who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.; ; International Diabetes Federation, Diabetes Atlas.; Weighted average;

This dataset contains information on the proportion by age, total number, male and female and sex of adults of adults diagnosed with diabetes, collected from the system of health-related telephone surveys, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), conducted in more than 400,000 patients, from 50 states in the US, the District of Columbia and three US territories.

Diabetes prevalence in Massachusetts has been steadily increasing.

Iraq: Diabetes prevalence, percent of population ages 20-79: The latest value from 2021 is 10.7 percent, an increase from 9.1 percent in 2011. In comparison, the world average is 8.60 percent, based on data from 195 countries. Historically, the average for Iraq from 2011 to 2021 is 9.9 percent. The minimum value, 9.1 percent, was reached in 2011 while the maximum of 10.7 percent was recorded in 2021.