People with Lupus

At a glance

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common type of lupus.
  • Over 200,000 people in the United States are estimated to have SLE.
  • Women and people from certain racial and ethnic groups are more likely to develop SLE.
Three young women posing outdoors.

People affected by lupus

An estimated 204,000 people have SLE in the United States, according to the most recent data available.1 This includes about:

  • 184,000 females.
  • 20,000 males.

Anyone can develop lupus, including children. However, lupus is more common in:

  • Women.
  • People from certain racial and ethnic groups.

Mostly in women

Most people with lupus are women. It is estimated that 9 out of every 10 people with lupus are women.2

Women of childbearing age (15 to 44 years) have the highest risk of developing SLE.2

Racial and ethnic groups

Black or African American, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations are affected more than White populations.13

Black and AI/AN women are 2 to 3 times more likely than White women to develop lupus. They also tend to have more severe cases of lupus.13

Lupus-Related deaths

Black people have higher rates of death from lupus than White people.4

  • Black people with lupus also tend to die sooner after they are diagnosed.4
  • And they tend to die younger, compared to White people with lupus.4

Fact‎

On average, Black people with lupus die earlier ages—more than 10 years younger—than White people with lupus.
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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
  1. Izmirly PM, Parton H, Wang L, et al. Prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus in the United States: estimates from a meta-analysis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Lupus Registries.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021;73(6):991-996. doi:10.1002/art.41632
  2. Pons-Estel GJ, Alarcón GS, Scofield L, et al. Understanding the epidemiology and progression of systemic lupus erythematosus. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2010;39(4):257-268. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2008.10.007
  3. Ferucci ED, Johnston JM, Gaddy JR, et al. Prevalence and incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus in a population-based registry of American Indian and Alaska Native people, 2007-2009. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2014;66(9):2494-2502. doi:10.1002/art.38720
  4. Lim SS, Helmick CG, Bao G, et al. Racial disparities in mortality associated with systemic lupus erythematosus - Fulton and DeKalb Counties, Georgia, 2002-2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;68(18):419-422. Published 2019 May 10. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6818a4