Arthritis Related Statistics

Find basic statistics about arthritis, such as prevalence, disabilities and limitations, quality of life, and costs.

Note: There are different data sources for some of the arthritis related statistics; therefore, case definitions and terminology will also vary. Learn more about arthritis case definitions.

Common Types of Arthritis
an adult hand writing the word arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Gout, fibromyalgia, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis are other common rheumatic conditions. 

Learn more about specific types of arthritis. 

Prevalence of Arthritis in the United States
National Prevalence
  • Based on data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), during 2019 – 2021, an estimated 53.2 million US adults (21.2%) had ever been told by a doctor (doctor-diagnosed) that they had some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia.1
  • The NHIS collects data on a broad range of health topics through personal household interviews with US adults.
Prevalence by State
Prevalence by Small Areas
  • To view arthritis prevalence estimates by census tract, county, incorporated and census designated place, and Zip Code Tabulation Area, go to the interactive map on PLACES and select location type.
Prevalence of Arthritis by Race/Ethnicity and Sex
Prevalence by Sex
  • From 2019 to 2021, the unadjusted prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis in the United States (NHIS) was 24.2% among women and 17.9% among men.1
  • To see state-specific prevalence estimates for women and men, go to the interactive map on the Chronic Disease Indicators Database and select Gender in the “View by” drop down menu.
Prevalence by Race and Ethnicity
  • During 2019 – 2021, arthritis affected U.S. adults of all racial and ethnic backgrounds (NHIS):
    • 5.2 million (12.4%) Hispanic adults reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis.1
    • 39.1 million (24.6%) non-Hispanic White adults reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis.1
    • 6.0 million (20.4%) non-Hispanic Black adults reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis.1
    • 1.6 million (10.5%) non-Hispanic Asian or other Pacific Islander adults reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis.1
    • 0.4 million (22.2%) non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native adults reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis.1
    • 1.0 million (20.8%) adults of other or multiple races reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis.1
  • To view state-specific prevalence estimates by race and ethnicity, go to the interactive map on the Chronic Disease Indicators Database and select Race/Ethnicity in the “View by” drop down menu.
Arthritis Prevalence Among US Adults by Age, 2019-2021 National Health Interview Survey

Source: 2019-2021 National Health Interview Survey

Prevalence of Arthritis by Age
  • Arthritis affects adults of all ages and prevalence of arthritis increases with age. From 2019 to 2021 in the United States (NHIS):
    • 5.4% of adults 18 to 44 years old reported arthritis.1
    • Among adults aged 45 to 64 years, one-in-four (26.0%) reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis.1
    • Among adults aged 65 years or older, almost half (47.3%) reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis.1
Prevalence by Health Conditions and Comorbidities
Overweight/Obesity and Arthritis
  • During 2019 – 2021, adults who had overweight or obesity reported arthritis more often than adults who were categorized as under weight or a healthy weight (NHIS).1
    • 15.5% of under/healthy weight adults reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis.1
    • 20.5% of US adults with overweight and 27.5% of those with obesity reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis.1
  • To view state-specific arthritis prevalence estimates among adults who are obese, go to the interactive Chronic Disease Indicators Database  and select indicator: Arthritis among adults aged >= 18 years who are obese.
Severe Joint Pain and Arthritis
  • In 2014, 14.6 million adults reported severe joint pain due to arthritis (NHIS).5
  • The percentage of adults with arthritis who have severe joint pain varies by state. In 2021, the percentage ranged from 19.0% in South Dakota to 46.1% in Louisiana (based on data from the Chronic Disease Indicators Database).
  • To view state-specific arthritis prevalence estimates among adults who have severe joint pain, go to the interactive Chronic Disease Indicators Database  and select indicator: Severe joint pain due to arthritis among adults aged >= 18 years who have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
Disability/Limitations and Arthritis
Leading Cause of Work Disability
  • Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are a leading cause of work disability among US adults.6
  • Among working age US adults (18 to 64 years) with arthritis, nearly 1 in 3 (30.2%) had work disability during 2011-2013.6
  • The prevalence of work limitations due to arthritis varied by state. To view state-specific arthritis prevalence data for work limitations, go to the interactive Chronic Disease Indicators Database and select indicator: Work limitation due to arthritis among adults aged 18-64 years who have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
Falls and Fall Injuries
  • Falls and fall injuries are an important concern for adults with arthritis.
  • In 2012, compared to adults aged 45 years and older who do not have arthritis, adults 45 years and over with arthritis were (BRFSS):
    • 4 times more likely to have two or more falls.7
    • 5 times more likely to have a fall injury.7

Prevalence of Work, Activity and Social Limitations Among United States Adults with Arthritis

Activity Limitation
Arthritis Costs
  • In 2013, the national costs of arthritis were $304 billion overall.8
    • Arthritis-attributable medical costs were $140 billion.8
    • Arthritis-attributable lost wages were $164 billion.8
  • The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey is a set of large-scale surveys of families and individuals, their medical providers, and employers across the United States.
  • Learn more about the cost of arthritis in US adults.
Related CDC Data Portals

Work directly with the data to create your own filtered datasets, customize visualizations, download data, and more.

References
  1. Fallon EA, Boring MA, Foster AL, et al. Prevalence of diagnosed arthritis—United States, 2019–2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:1101-1107. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7241a1
  2. Duca LM, Helmick CG, Barbour KE, et al. State-specific prevalence of inactivity, self-rated health status, and severe joint pain among adults with arthritis — United States, 2019. Prev Chronic Dis 2022;19:210346. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd19.210346
  3. Barbour KE, Moss S, Croft JB, et al. Geographic variations in arthritis prevalence, health-related characteristics, and management — United States, 2015. MMWR Surveill Summ 2018;67(No. SS-4):1–28. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6704a1.
  4. Hootman JM, Helmick CG, Barbour KE, Theis KA, Boring MA. Updated projected prevalence of self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation among US adults, 2015–2040.  Arthritis & Rheumatol. 2016;68(7):1582–1587. doi: 10.1002/art.39692. PubMed PMID: 27015600.
  5. Barbour KE, Boring M, Helmick CG, Murphy LB, Qin J. Prevalence of severe joint pain among adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis — United States, 2002–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:1052–1056. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6539a2.
  6. Theis KA, Roblin D, Helmick CG, Luo R. Prevalence and causes of work disability among working-age US adults: 2011–2013. Disabil Health J. 2018;11(1):108–115. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2017.04.010. PMID: 28476583.
  7. Barbour KE, Stevens JA, Helmick CG, et al. Falls and fall injuries among adults with arthritis—United States, 2012. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2014;63(17):379-383.
  8. Murphy LB, Cisternas MG, Pasta DJ, Helmick CG, Yelin EH. Medical expenditures and earnings losses among US adults with arthritis in 2013. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018;70(6):869-876. doi: 10.1002/acr.23425.