Roughly 595 million people worldwide have osteoarthritis alone, making it the most common joint disease on the planet. Add in rheumatoid arthritis (about 18 million), psoriatic arthritis, and other forms, and the global total climbs well past 600 million. In the United States, about one in five adults has been diagnosed with some form of arthritis.
Global Numbers by Type
Osteoarthritis accounts for the vast majority of arthritis cases. As of 2020, an estimated 595 million people globally were living with it, representing 7.6% of the world’s population. That number has surged 132% since 1990, driven largely by aging populations and rising obesity rates.
Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition where the body attacks its own joint lining, affects a much smaller share. The World Health Organization estimated 18 million people had rheumatoid arthritis in 2019, less than 1% of the global population. Psoriatic arthritis, which develops in some people with the skin condition psoriasis, is rarer still, affecting roughly 112 out of every 100,000 adults worldwide. Europe has the highest rates (around 188 per 100,000), while South America has some of the lowest (about 17 per 100,000).
Arthritis in the United States
CDC data from 2024 shows that 21.3% of American adults, roughly one in five, have been diagnosed with arthritis. Earlier estimates from 2016 to 2018 put the raw number at about 58.5 million adults. Children aren’t exempt either: an estimated 220,000 Americans under 18 have been diagnosed with some form of arthritis, a rate of about 305 per 100,000 kids.
These numbers likely undercount the true burden. Research comparing what patients report to what doctors document shows that only about 52% of people with osteoarthritis accurately self-report their diagnosis. People with conditions that cause more dramatic symptoms, like rheumatoid arthritis, are much better at identifying what they have (about 90% accuracy). This means a significant number of people, particularly those with milder osteoarthritis, may not realize they have it or may not have sought a formal diagnosis.
Who Gets Arthritis Most Often
Age is the single biggest factor. Among Americans aged 18 to 34, only 3.6% have arthritis. That figure rises steadily with each decade and reaches 53.9% among adults 75 and older. By that age, arthritis is more common than not.
Women are significantly more likely to develop arthritis than men: 21.5% versus 16.1% in the U.S. This gap holds across most types of arthritis, and hormonal differences, body composition, and immune system patterns all play a role.
Race and ethnicity also influence risk. Among U.S. adults, prevalence is highest in people identifying as other or multiple races (22.5%), followed by White adults (20.7%) and Black adults (19.2%). Hispanic adults (14.6%) and Asian adults (11.3%) have notably lower rates, though genetics, lifestyle, access to diagnosis, and cultural differences in seeking care all factor into these numbers.
Regional Differences Around the World
Osteoarthritis prevalence varies by region but exists everywhere. Age-adjusted rates in 2020 exceeded 5.5% in every part of the world. Southeast Asia had the lowest rates, at about 5,677 per 100,000 people, while high-income Asia Pacific countries (Japan, South Korea, and similar nations) had the highest at roughly 8,633 per 100,000. Longer life expectancy in wealthier nations partly explains this, since age is such a dominant risk factor. Projections through 2050 suggest the global burden will continue climbing as populations age worldwide.
How Arthritis Affects Daily Life
Having a diagnosis is one thing. Living with real limitations is another, and the overlap is substantial. Among U.S. adults with arthritis, about 44% report that the condition directly limits their activities. That translates to roughly 25.7 million Americans who struggle with everyday tasks because of joint pain, stiffness, or reduced mobility.
The impact compounds for people dealing with other health challenges. Among those with arthritis who also have difficulty with basic daily activities like bathing or dressing, 83% attribute at least some of that difficulty to their arthritis. For people with serious psychological distress, 76% report arthritis-related limitations on top of their mental health burden.
The Economic Cost
Arthritis doesn’t just affect joints. It drains wallets and workplaces. Pain-related conditions, with arthritis as a leading contributor, cost the U.S. workforce an estimated $61.2 billion per year in lost productivity. The surprising part: most of that loss (about 77%) comes not from people missing work entirely, but from showing up and performing below their capacity. The combination of direct medical expenses, medications, joint replacements, and reduced earning power makes arthritis one of the most expensive chronic conditions in the developed world.