Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPrevalenceDiagnosis RatesMS StatisticsOther MS FactsFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Prevalence

Diagnosis Rates

MS Statistics

Other MS Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

The number of people living withmultiple sclerosis (MS)grows each year, but the total number of cases is only an estimate because there is no registry available to track new cases. Certain groups—including women, adults under 50, White people of European ancestry, and those who live farthest from the equator—have the highest rates of diagnosis.

Read on to learn more about MS prevalence worldwide and the current state of MS research.

Verywell / Laura Porter

What Causes MS?

Prevalence numbers can provide medical professionals with insight into the needs of people with MS, as well as the economic burden of the disease.

An estimated 2.8 million around the world have MS—and that number grew from 2.3 million in 2013. The majority of the 2.8 million people that are diagnosed with MS are adults, however, roughly 30,000 people living with MS are under the age of 18.

Worldwide data suggest that every region in the world has seen an increase in people being diagnosed with MS since 2013. However, there are still gaps in former estimates about how many people have the disease.

According to a comprehensive study of worldwide cases of MS, the Atlas of MS, someone in the world is diagnosed with MS every five minutes.

Diagnosis rates vary based on region, sex, age, and ethnicity. Women make up the majority of MS cases in the world and are twice as likely to have MS as men. In some areas of the world, there are four cases of MS in women to every one case in men.

The onset of MS typically occurs between the ages of 20 and 50, and the average age at which someone is diagnosed is 32.

Does MS Affect Life Expectancy?

Multiple Sclerosis Statistics

By Region

By Ethnicity

A person of any ethnicity can develop MS, but some groups are more likely to be diagnosed with it than others. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, white people of European descent are the most likely to be diagnosed with MS. However, more recent data has shown that Black women have a higher risk of developing MS than researchers originally thought.

Caucasians are more likely to develop MS than people of other races/ethnicities.

In fact, the numbers of Black and Hispanic Americans being diagnosed with MS are increasing in the United States, which shows that the long-held notion that Black Americans are a low-risk population for MS is not necessarily true.

What Is Late-Onset MS?

Other Facts About MS

When looking at the worldwide prevalence of MS, income appears to be another contributing factor. According to the Atlas of MS, people with higher incomes are more likely to be diagnosed with MS than people with lower incomes.

A person’s socioeconomic status has also been linked to MS disease progression. One study found that people with MS who live in neighborhoods of lower income levels are more likely to reach disability than people living in higher-income areas.

Although the study did not look at why having a lower income may increase the chances of disability for people with MS, the authors suggested that diet and exercise, among other lifestyle factors, may contribute.

Economic Burden of MS

Rates of MS continuing to climb, and people with the disease are forced to utilize health care more often than people who do not have a chronic health condition. As the disease progresses, so does a person’s need for health care.

Research has found that although people with MS use more healthcare resources than people who do not have MS, many of them have insurance. Roughly 53.9% of people with MS have private health insurance, 39% have federally funded health care such as Medicare or Medicaid. That leaves 7.7% of people with the disease being uninsured.

However, the costs associated with MS treatment can be high even with insurance, as some specialty drugs can cost more than $600 per month. Annually, the out-of-pocket costs for people with MS can range from $5,900 to $6,400 a year.

With all the variables that go into insurance plans—such as what is covered and the amount of coverage available—the proper treatment and management of symptoms and disease progression in people with MS might be out of reach for many people with the condition.

According to meta-analyses on the overall economic burden of MS, regardless of insurance coverage or income, it costs roughly $4.1 million dollars to treat one MS patient for their entire life.

Ongoing Research

The main goal of studying MS is to figure out what causes it and find new and better ways to treat it. Ongoing research will help more people access treatment that could reduce their symptoms and help prevent disability.

Specific areas of ongoing MS research include the following:

Summary

MS is considered the most widespread disabling disease in young adults and its prevalence is rising around the world. In fact, some populations that were previously considered to be at low risk for developing MS have also seen rising case numbers in recent decades.

A Word From Verywell

The goal of researchers is to develop a cure for MS, but it’s not here yet. Studies are focused on areas that could help treat the disease more effectively and to gain an understanding of why it develops in the first place.

Even without a cure on the horizon, with new treatment options being developed, the millions of people living with MS can cope more effectively with the symptoms of the disease.

MS Support Groups

Frequently Asked QuestionsIt is hard to determine the exact percentage of people who have MS across the globe. Roughly 2.8 million people around the world have MS. With a worldwide population of roughly 7.6 billion, that means that the percentage of people with MS is approximately 0.03%.Based on data collected around the world to assess the rates of MS from 2013 to today, every region in the world saw an increase in MS cases during that time.Anyone of any population can develop MS, but people of northern European, including Scandinavian, descent are the most likely to have MS. However, cases are also rising in populations that were previously thought to be considered low risk, particularly Black women.

It is hard to determine the exact percentage of people who have MS across the globe. Roughly 2.8 million people around the world have MS. With a worldwide population of roughly 7.6 billion, that means that the percentage of people with MS is approximately 0.03%.

Based on data collected around the world to assess the rates of MS from 2013 to today, every region in the world saw an increase in MS cases during that time.

Anyone of any population can develop MS, but people of northern European, including Scandinavian, descent are the most likely to have MS. However, cases are also rising in populations that were previously thought to be considered low risk, particularly Black women.

7 Surprising Facts About Multiple Sclerosis

10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.How Many People Live With MS?.Multiple Sclerosis International Federation.Atlas of MS 3rd Edition. Published September 2020.Walton C, King R, Rechtman L, et al.Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis worldwide: Insights from the Atlas of MS, third edition.Mult Scler. 2020 Dec;26(14):1816-1821. doi:10.1177/1352458520970841GBD 2016 Multiple Sclerosis Collaborators.Global, regional, and national burden of multiple sclerosis 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016.Lancet Neurol.2019 Mar;18(3):269-285. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30443-5National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who Gets MS?.Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.Who Gets Multiple Sclerosis?Updated February 26, 2020.Amezcua L, McCauley JL.Race and ethnicity on MS presentation and disease course.Mult Scler.2020 Apr;26(5):561-567. doi:10.1177/1352458519887328Harding KE, Wardle M, Carruthers R, et al.Socioeconomic status and disability progression in multiple sclerosis: A multinational study.Neurology.2019 Mar 26;92(13):e1497-e1506. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000007190Owens GM.Economic burden of multiple sclerosis and the role of managed sare organizations in multiple sclerosis management.Am J Manag Care.2016 Jun;22(6 Suppl):s151-158.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Multiple Sclerosis: Hope Through Research. Updated March 25, 2021.

10 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.How Many People Live With MS?.Multiple Sclerosis International Federation.Atlas of MS 3rd Edition. Published September 2020.Walton C, King R, Rechtman L, et al.Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis worldwide: Insights from the Atlas of MS, third edition.Mult Scler. 2020 Dec;26(14):1816-1821. doi:10.1177/1352458520970841GBD 2016 Multiple Sclerosis Collaborators.Global, regional, and national burden of multiple sclerosis 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016.Lancet Neurol.2019 Mar;18(3):269-285. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30443-5National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who Gets MS?.Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.Who Gets Multiple Sclerosis?Updated February 26, 2020.Amezcua L, McCauley JL.Race and ethnicity on MS presentation and disease course.Mult Scler.2020 Apr;26(5):561-567. doi:10.1177/1352458519887328Harding KE, Wardle M, Carruthers R, et al.Socioeconomic status and disability progression in multiple sclerosis: A multinational study.Neurology.2019 Mar 26;92(13):e1497-e1506. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000007190Owens GM.Economic burden of multiple sclerosis and the role of managed sare organizations in multiple sclerosis management.Am J Manag Care.2016 Jun;22(6 Suppl):s151-158.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Multiple Sclerosis: Hope Through Research. Updated March 25, 2021.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society.How Many People Live With MS?.Multiple Sclerosis International Federation.Atlas of MS 3rd Edition. Published September 2020.Walton C, King R, Rechtman L, et al.Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis worldwide: Insights from the Atlas of MS, third edition.Mult Scler. 2020 Dec;26(14):1816-1821. doi:10.1177/1352458520970841GBD 2016 Multiple Sclerosis Collaborators.Global, regional, and national burden of multiple sclerosis 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016.Lancet Neurol.2019 Mar;18(3):269-285. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30443-5National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who Gets MS?.Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.Who Gets Multiple Sclerosis?Updated February 26, 2020.Amezcua L, McCauley JL.Race and ethnicity on MS presentation and disease course.Mult Scler.2020 Apr;26(5):561-567. doi:10.1177/1352458519887328Harding KE, Wardle M, Carruthers R, et al.Socioeconomic status and disability progression in multiple sclerosis: A multinational study.Neurology.2019 Mar 26;92(13):e1497-e1506. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000007190Owens GM.Economic burden of multiple sclerosis and the role of managed sare organizations in multiple sclerosis management.Am J Manag Care.2016 Jun;22(6 Suppl):s151-158.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Multiple Sclerosis: Hope Through Research. Updated March 25, 2021.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society.How Many People Live With MS?.

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation.Atlas of MS 3rd Edition. Published September 2020.

Walton C, King R, Rechtman L, et al.Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis worldwide: Insights from the Atlas of MS, third edition.Mult Scler. 2020 Dec;26(14):1816-1821. doi:10.1177/1352458520970841

GBD 2016 Multiple Sclerosis Collaborators.Global, regional, and national burden of multiple sclerosis 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016.Lancet Neurol.2019 Mar;18(3):269-285. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30443-5

National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who Gets MS?.

Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.Who Gets Multiple Sclerosis?Updated February 26, 2020.

Amezcua L, McCauley JL.Race and ethnicity on MS presentation and disease course.Mult Scler.2020 Apr;26(5):561-567. doi:10.1177/1352458519887328

Harding KE, Wardle M, Carruthers R, et al.Socioeconomic status and disability progression in multiple sclerosis: A multinational study.Neurology.2019 Mar 26;92(13):e1497-e1506. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000007190

Owens GM.Economic burden of multiple sclerosis and the role of managed sare organizations in multiple sclerosis management.Am J Manag Care.2016 Jun;22(6 Suppl):s151-158.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Multiple Sclerosis: Hope Through Research. Updated March 25, 2021.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?