Key facts
- In 2019, about 528 million people worldwide were living with osteoarthritis; an increase of 113% since 1990 (1).
- About 73% of people living with osteoarthritis are older than 55 years, and 60% are female (1).
- With a prevalence of 365 million, the knee is the most frequently affected joint, followed by the hip and the hand (2).
- 344 million people living with osteoarthritis experience severity levels (moderate or severe) that could benefit from rehabilitation (3).
- With ageing populations and increasing rates of obesity and injury, the prevalence of osteoarthritis is expected to continue to increase globally.
- Osteoarthritis is not an evitable consequence of ageing.
Source: WHO