- Your cart is empty
- Continue Shopping
How Many People Have Chronic Kidney Disease Globally?ย [2025 Statistics, Data & Trends]
- Stats & Data
- Posted on
-
by enavec_pharmacy
- 0 comments
![How Many People Have Chronic Kidney Disease Globally? [2025 Statistics, Data & Trends]](https://enavecpharmacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-21-2026-05_18_19-PM.png)
Commonly Searched Topics
Reader Locations
How Many People Have Chronic Kidney Disease Globally? [2025 Statistics, Data & Trends]
By Enavec Pharmacy Data Team ยท Sources: GBD 2023 CKD Collaborators, The Lancet, November 2025 ยท ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas 2024 ยท KDIGO ยท PMC
๐ Primary Statistic ยท GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet, Nov 2025
788 million people aged 20 and older worldwide have Chronic Kidney Disease
788 MillionPeople globally have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) โ as of 2023
Source: GBD 2023 Chronic Kidney Disease Collaborators. The Lancet. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01853-7 ยท Published 07 November 2025 ยท 204 countries, adults aged 20+
That is more than 1 in 10 adults on Earth โ a global age-standardised prevalence of 14.2%, up from 378 million in 1990. CKD is now the 9th leading cause of death worldwide, killing 1.48 million people per year. It is silent, often asymptomatic until advanced stages, and disproportionately deadly in low-income countries where dialysis and transplant are largely unavailable.
14.2%
Global age-std prevalence in adults โ GBD 2023
1.48M
Deaths from CKD per year globally ยท 9th leading cause
+108%
Rise in people with CKD since 1990 (378M โ 788M)
80%
Of people requiring dialysis have no access to it โ ISN GKHA 2024
๐ Quick Reference: Chronic Kidney Disease โ Global Key Statistics
Download CSV โ
| Statistic | Figure | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| People with CKD globally (adults 20+) | 788 million (743โ843 million) | GBD 2023 CKD Collaborators ยท The Lancet | 2023 |
| Global age-standardised CKD prevalence (adults) | 14.2% (13.4โ15.2%) | GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet ยท November 2025 | 2023 |
| People with CKD globally in 1990 | 378 million (354โ407 million) | GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet ยท November 2025 | 1990 |
| Annual CKD deaths (globally) | 1.48 million (1.30โ1.65 million) | GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet ยท November 2025 | 2023 |
| Global rank as a cause of death | 9th leading cause of death worldwide | GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet ยท November 2025 | 2023 |
| CKD DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) | 769.2 per 100,000 (age-std) โ 12th leading cause | GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet ยท November 2025 | 2023 |
| Global median CKD prevalence (ISN Atlas) | 9.5% (IQR 5.9โ11.7%) | ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas ยท Lancet Global Health 2024 | 2024 |
| GBD 2021 CKD prevalence estimate (all ages) | 673โ674 million individuals | GBD 2021 ยท PMC12267038 / PMC11919670 / PMC12366504 | 2021 |
| CKD prevalence 1990โ2021 change | Absolute count +92%; 0.8% decrease in age-std rate | PMC12267038 ยท GBD 2021 ยท 2025 | 2021 |
| Highest age-std prevalence region | North Africa & Middle East โ 18.0% (16.9โ19.4%) | GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet ยท November 2025 | 2023 |
| CKD attributable to impaired kidney function (CV deaths) | 11.5% of cardiovascular deaths | GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet ยท November 2025 | 2023 |
| Nigeria CKD prevalence (population-based studies) | 11.4โ26% depending on equation used | PMC5968792 ยท systematic review 7 studies | 2018 |
๐ฅ Download CSV: [email protected] โ subject line "CSV: CKD Global Statistics" ยท ๐ Journalists may cite with attribution to enavecpharmacy.com
โก Featured Snippet โ Written for Google Position 0
788 million people aged 20 and older worldwide have chronic kidney disease (CKD) as of 2023 โ equivalent to a global age-standardised adult prevalence of 14.2%, up from 378 million in 1990, according to the GBD 2023 Chronic Kidney Disease Collaborators (The Lancet, November 2025). This represents more than 1 in 10 adults globally. CKD is the 9th leading cause of death worldwide, killing 1.48 million people per year. Most people with CKD have Stage 1โ3 disease, but progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) without dialysis or transplant is fatal โ and in low- and middle-income countries, most patients with ESKD have no access to life-saving renal replacement therapy.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined by KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) as the presence of kidney damage or a glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 60 mL/min/1.73mยฒ for three months or more, regardless of cause. It is classified into five stages (G1โG5) based on eGFR and albuminuria. Most people with CKD do not know they have it โ it is almost always asymptomatic until advanced stages โ making systematic screening and awareness critical.
The GBD 2023 data โ the most comprehensive and most recent available โ reveals that CKD's global prevalence more than doubled between 1990 and 2023, from 378 million to 788 million. This rise is primarily driven by the parallel epidemics of diabetes and hypertension, the ageing of the global population, and the increasing prevalence of obesity. While the age-standardised rate has risen only modestly (+3.5% relative increase since 1990), the absolute number of affected individuals has grown dramatically as world population expanded and aged.
788M
People globally have CKD in 2023 โ 1 in 10 adults. More than the population of Europe.
GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet Nov 2025
1.48M
Annual CKD deaths worldwide in 2023 โ 9th leading cause of death globally
GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet Nov 2025
+108%
Rise in global CKD burden since 1990 โ from 378 million to 788 million people
GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet Nov 2025
CKD is not merely a kidney disease โ it is a cardiovascular amplifier and systemic burden. According to GBD 2023, impaired kidney function as a risk factor accounts for 11.5% of all cardiovascular deaths globally. Every stage of CKD increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and sudden cardiac death. In many patients, cardiovascular complications kill before kidney failure itself progresses to ESKD requiring dialysis.
๐ Key Takeaway
CKD's most devastating feature is not how many people have it, but how invisible it is. Because CKD has no symptoms until Stage 4 or 5, the vast majority of the 788 million people affected globally do not know their kidneys are failing. Awareness, detection, and early treatment โ with ACE inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors, blood pressure control, and diabetic management โ can halt progression for years or decades. The tragedy is that in low-income countries like many in sub-Saharan Africa, even these inexpensive interventions are often unavailable or unaffordable, while dialysis โ the lifeline when kidneys fail โ is accessible to only a fraction of those who need it.
CKD Prevalence by KDIGO Stage (Global)
KDIGO Stage Definitions: Stage G1 (eGFR โฅ90 + damage marker) ยท Stage G2 (60โ89 + damage) ยท Stage G3a (45โ59) ยท Stage G3b (30โ44) ยท Stage G4 (15โ29) ยท Stage G5/ESKD (eGFR <15 or dialysis/transplant). GBD 2023 reports that most CKD is Stage 1โ3, with a combined prevalence of 13.9% of adults globally. Higher stages are far less prevalent but far more deadly and costly.
| CKD Stage | Global Prevalence | eGFR Range | Key Characteristics | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 (G1) + Albuminuria | ~3.5% (2.8โ4.2%) of adults | eGFR โฅ90 + ACR >30 mg/g | Normal or high eGFR with kidney damage marker; often missed; treatment prevents progression | PMC4934905 meta-analysis |
| Stage 2 (G2) + Albuminuria | ~3.9% (2.7โ5.3%) | eGFR 60โ89 + ACR >30 | Mildly reduced eGFR with damage marker; no symptoms; cardiovascular risk elevated | PMC4934905 meta-analysis |
| Stage 3 (G3a + G3b) | ~7.6% (6.4โ8.9%) โ most prevalent CKD stage | eGFR 30โ59 | Moderately reduced function; may have anaemia, fatigue, early BP changes; still largely asymptomatic | PMC4934905 meta-analysis |
| Stage 4 (G4) | ~0.4% (0.3โ0.5%) | eGFR 15โ29 | Severe reduction; symptoms emerge (nausea, fatigue, oedema); urgent preparation for renal replacement | PMC4934905 meta-analysis |
| Stage 5 / ESKD (G5) | ~0.1% (0.1โ0.1%) | eGFR <15 | Kidney failure โ requires dialysis or transplant to survive; high mortality where unavailable | PMC4934905 meta-analysis |
| Stages 1โ3 Combined (GBD 2023) | 13.9% (13.1โ15.0%) of adults globally | Various | The overwhelming majority of CKD; most undiagnosed; intervention at this stage saves lives and kidneys | GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet Nov 2025 |
Top Causes of CKD Worldwide โ Aetiology Breakdown
| Cause of CKD | Global Contribution | Particularly High In | Key Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) | Leading cause globally; diabetic nephropathy accounts for ~32% of CKD DALYs | High-income countries, Gulf States, South Asia | GBD 2017 / PMC7049905 ยท GBD 2023 |
| Hypertensive Nephrosclerosis | Second major cause; strongly linked to uncontrolled hypertension | Sub-Saharan Africa (especially West Africa), Eastern Europe, East Asia | GBD 2021 ยท KDIGO ยท PMC9073222 |
| Glomerulonephritis (primary) | Major in developing countries โ especially IgA nephropathy | East Asia, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa (infection-related) | GBD 2021 ยท PMC12366504 |
| CKD of Unknown Aetiology (CKDu) | Emerging cause โ 21.7% of renal admissions in Nigeria; up to 65.8% of SSA CKD unexplained | Sub-Saharan Africa, Sri Lanka, Central America, India | Wiley Nephrology 2024 ยท PMC 2022 |
| HIV-Associated Nephropathy (HIVAN) | Critical in sub-Saharan Africa where APOL1 variants amplify risk โ OR 29.2 for HIVAN | Southern and East Africa; African Americans | MDPI Applied Sci 2023 ยท PMC |
| Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) | Genetic cause; ~1 in 1,000 globally; accounts for ~2โ3% of ESKD | All regions equally; family history is primary risk | KDIGO guidelines ยท ISN 2024 |
| Acute Kidney Injury progression | AKI โ CKD progression common in SSA; non-recovery from AKI = 0.4โ36.5% in African studies | Sub-Saharan Africa โ high rates of malaria, sepsis, and obstetric AKI | MDPI Applied Sci 2023 ยท PMC |
18.0%
Highest regional CKD prevalence โ North Africa & Middle East in GBD 2023
GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet Nov 2025
~32%
Of CKD DALYs attributed to diabetic nephropathy โ the largest single cause globally
GBD 2017 ยท PMC7049905
~85%
Of CKD DALYs occur in LMICs โ where dialysis access is least available
GBD 2021 ยท PMC12267038
๐ Key Takeaway โ Data Breakdown
Diabetes and hypertension together drive the majority of global CKD โ meaning most CKD is theoretically preventable through better metabolic control, blood pressure management, and lifestyle modification. In sub-Saharan Africa, however, CKD has a unique profile: hypertension-driven disease dominates, but so does CKD of unknown aetiology (CKDu), HIV-associated nephropathy, and infection-driven glomerulonephritis โ a "double burden" of communicable and non-communicable drivers that no single intervention addresses. APOL1 gene variants (G1 and G2) common in West African populations confer up to 50% lifetime risk of HIVAN and dramatically elevated risk of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis โ a genetic vulnerability that further amplifies the CKD burden in Africa.
Age-Standardised CKD Prevalence (%) by GBD World Region โ GBD 2021 / 2023 Estimates
GBD 2021/2023 ยท PMC / Lancet
Sources: GBD 2023 CKD Collaborators, The Lancet, November 2025 ยท PMC12267038 (GBD 2021) ยท PMC12366504 (GBD 2021) ยท ISN GKHA Lancet Global Health 2024
Note: Age-standardised rates control for population age differences; some regional values are mid-range estimates from published uncertainty intervals.
๐ Journalists may cite with attribution to enavecpharmacy.com
Note: Age-standardised rates control for population age differences; some regional values are mid-range estimates from published uncertainty intervals.
๐ Journalists may cite with attribution to enavecpharmacy.com
The GBD 2023 data documents one of global health's most consistent trends: a relentless absolute rise in the number of people living with CKD since 1990, driven by population growth, ageing, and the parallel diabetes and hypertension epidemics. The age-standardised rate โ which controls for these demographic shifts โ has risen more modestly, but the absolute human toll is staggering.
| Year | Global CKD Prevalence (people) | Annual CKD Deaths | Key Development | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 378 million (354โ407M) | ~0.55โ0.60 million | CKD ranked 27th cause of death globally. Dialysis primarily in high-income countries. Diabetic nephropathy not yet at current epidemic scale. | GBD 2023 ยท Lancet 2025 ยท PMC9073222 |
| 1995 | ~430โ450 million | ~0.70 million | Diabetes epidemic accelerating globally. Hypertension prevalence rising in sub-Saharan Africa with urbanisation. CKD awareness low. | GBD estimates ยท PMC7049905 |
| 2000 | ~490โ510 million | ~0.84 million | KDOQI guidelines published โ first standardised CKD definition enables systematic global tracking. HIV epidemic contributes to African CKD via HIVAN. | GBD 2017 ยท PMC9073222 |
| 2010 | ~550โ580 million | ~1.06 million | CKD rises to 18th cause of death globally (from 27th in 1990) โ fastest mortality rise of any condition. KDIGO 2012 guidelines provide global CKD framework. | PMC9073222 ยท GBD 2017 |
| 2013 | ~600 million | ~1.14 million | GBD 2013 shows CKD is one of only a handful of conditions with increasing death rates โ while most communicable and NCD deaths fall. | PMC9073222 ยท GBD 2013 |
| 2017 | 843.6 million | ~1.23 million | Largest pre-2023 GBD estimate. All-age CKD mortality rate increased 41.5% since 1990. CKD 12th leading cause of death. Diabetic nephropathy: ~32% of CKD DALYs. | PMC9073222 ยท GBD 2017 ยท PMC7049905 |
| 2021 | 673โ674 million | 1.5 million | GBD 2021 uses revised methodology โ lower prevalence than 2017 estimate but comparable deaths. COVID-19 temporarily reduced dialysis prevalence counts. Fastest ASPR growth in middle-SDI regions. | PMC12267038 ยท PMC12366504 ยท GBD 2021 |
| 2023 | 788 million (743โ843M) | 1.48 million (1.30โ1.65M) | GBD 2023 โ most comprehensive CKD analysis to date. 9th leading cause of death. Age-std prevalence 14.2%. 11.5% of CV deaths attributable to CKD as risk factor. N. Africa/Middle East highest prevalence region (18.0%). | GBD 2023 CKD Collaborators ยท The Lancet ยท November 2025 |
๐ Key Takeaway โ Trend
CKD is one of the fastest-rising causes of death and disability globally. While most leading diseases (heart disease, stroke, many cancers) have seen declining age-standardised mortality rates since 1990 in high-income countries, CKD mortality has increased in almost every region. It moved from the 27th cause of death in 1990 to the 9th in 2023 โ driven not by better detection alone, but by genuine increases in underlying risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, obesity) and, in sub-Saharan Africa, by CKDu, HIV, and infections. GBD projections suggest CKD could become the 5th highest cause of years of life lost by 2040 if current trajectories continue.
Global CKD Prevalence Trend 1990โ2023 โ Total People Affected (Millions)
GBD 1990โ2023 ยท The Lancet ยท PMC
Sources: GBD 2023 CKD Collaborators, The Lancet, November 2025 ยท GBD 2021 (PMC12267038 / PMC12366504) ยท GBD 2017 (PMC7049905) ยท PMC9073222 (2022 update)
Note: GBD 2021 and GBD 2023 use updated methodologies; figures are not always directly comparable to earlier GBD cycles. 2017 peak reflects prior GBD methodology. 2023 estimate is most comprehensive and authoritative.
๐ Journalists may cite with attribution to enavecpharmacy.com
Note: GBD 2021 and GBD 2023 use updated methodologies; figures are not always directly comparable to earlier GBD cycles. 2017 peak reflects prior GBD methodology. 2023 estimate is most comprehensive and authoritative.
๐ Journalists may cite with attribution to enavecpharmacy.com
CKD's burden is global, but what separates life from death for ESKD patients is access to renal replacement therapy (RRT) โ dialysis or kidney transplant. This is where the world's most extreme healthcare inequality exists: in high-income countries, essentially all patients who need dialysis receive it. In low-income countries, the overwhelming majority die without it.
| Country / Region | CKD Prevalence Est. | Dialysis Access | Nephrologists per Million Pop. | Public Funding for Dialysis? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ณ๐ฌ Nigeria | 11.4โ26% (population studies) | Critically limited โ acute PD only; chronic dialysis very limited | <5 per million | No โ solely private/out-of-pocket (Lancet 2024) | PMC5968792 ยท Lancet GH 2024 |
| ๐ Sub-Saharan Africa | ~12โ15% (varies by country) | 0.13 PD centres pmp vs 9.9 in N. America; 200ร gap in KRT prevalence | <10 per million (most countries) | Varies โ mostly out-of-pocket; some public in South Africa | Lancet GH 2024 ยท ISN GKHA |
| ๐ฟ๐ฆ South Africa | ~15% (adults) | Tertiary government and private โ better than rest of SSA | ~4โ10 per million | Partial โ public sector for limited patients | Lancet GH 2024 ยท PMC |
| ๐ฎ๐ณ India | ~13โ17% | Growing but unequal; rural access very limited | ~3โ8 per million | Partial โ state-level variation | GBD 2023 ยท ISN GKHA 2024 |
| ๐ Global Average | 14.2% (GBD 2023) | Median 9.5%; KRT varies 200ร between richest/poorest | Median ~10 per million | 45% of 166 countries โ free at point of delivery | Lancet GH 2024 ยท GBD 2023 |
| ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom | ~10โ15% | Universal access through NHS | ~30โ35 per million | Yes โ full NHS funding | KDIGO ยท ISN GKHA 2024 |
| ๐บ๐ธ United States | ~15% (CDC NHANES) | Universal ESKD coverage through Medicare Part B | ~40โ50 per million | Yes โ Medicare covers 80%+ | USRDS 2022 ยท ISN GKHA 2024 |
| ๐น๐ผ Taiwan | ~12% | World's highest dialysis prevalence (KRT); universal NHI coverage | ~60+ per million | Yes โ NHI full coverage | ISN GKHA 2024 ยท Lancet GH 2024 |
| ๐จ๐ฆ Canada | ~12โ15% | Universal access โ provincial health insurance | ~30โ40 per million | Yes โ provincial coverage | ISN GKHA 2024 ยท CIHI 2024 |
๐ Key Takeaway โ Country Comparison
The global KRT access gap โ a factor of 200 between rich and poor regions โ is the single most visible expression of healthcare inequality in CKD. In Nigeria, CKD patients reaching ESKD have essentially no access to chronic haemodialysis through public funds; they rely entirely on private payment that most cannot afford. The Lancet Global Health 2024 found that seven countries โ including Nigeria, Ghana, and DRC โ rely solely on private and out-of-pocket payments for haemodialysis. There are fewer nephrologists in the entire sub-Saharan African region than in some individual US teaching hospitals. New treatments โ particularly SGLT2 inhibitors (dapagliflozin, empagliflozin) โ can slow CKD progression by ~40% and are increasingly recommended by KDIGO, but affordability and availability in LMICs remain major barriers.
Estimated Nephrologists per Million Population โ Country & Regional Comparison (CKD Workforce Gap)
ISN GKHA 2024 ยท Lancet Global Health 2024
Sources: ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas 2024 (Bello AK et al., Lancet Global Health, 2024) ยท NephJC global review 2024 ยท KDIGO ยท WHO workforce estimates
Nigeria bar shown in green. WHO minimum viable staffing threshold shown as dashed line.
๐ Journalists may cite with attribution to enavecpharmacy.com
Nigeria bar shown in green. WHO minimum viable staffing threshold shown as dashed line.
๐ Journalists may cite with attribution to enavecpharmacy.com
The Silent Killer โ Living With CKD
CKD profoundly diminishes quality of life long before kidney failure. Fatigue, anaemia, fluid retention, bone disease, cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular risk shadow patients through stages 3 and 4. The 12th leading cause of DALYs globally, CKD's disability burden extends far beyond mortality statistics. For patients in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa reaching ESKD, the choices are stark: unaffordable private dialysis (typically โฆ150,000โโฆ400,000 per month in Nigeria, far exceeding minimum wage), medical tourism abroad, or death. The International Society of Nephrology estimates that over 2 million people die each year from lack of access to kidney replacement therapy globally โ the vast majority in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The economic cost of CKD is enormous. In the USA alone, Medicare spending on ESKD was over US$51 billion in 2021 (USRDS). Globally, the cost of dialysis for all who need it has been estimated at over US$1 trillion annually if treatment were universalised โ a figure that underscores why global equity remains elusive.
"Globally, in 2023, 788 million people aged 20 years and older were estimated to have chronic kidney disease, up from 378 million in 1990. CKD is a major global health issue, with rising prevalence and increasing importance as a cause of death and as a risk factor for cardiovascular death."
โ GBD 2023 Chronic Kidney Disease Collaborators ยท The Lancet ยท doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01853-7 ยท Published 07 November 2025
"The prevalence of kidney replacement therapy varies by a factor of 200 from high-income regions to sub-Saharan African countries. In almost 50% of surveyed countries, funding for KRT expenses relies solely on private and out-of-pocket payments."
โ Lancet Global Health ยท An update on the global disparities in kidney disease burden and care across world countries and regions ยท Bello AK et al. ยท 2024 ยท doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00570-3
SDG 3 & the 2040 Projection
CKD sits at the intersection of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). WHO's Global Action Plan for NCDs targets a one-third reduction in premature NCD mortality by 2030 โ CKD's trajectory is moving in the opposite direction in most LMICs. The GBD 2017 report projected that CKD will become the 5th highest cause of years of life lost globally by 2040. New treatments โ SGLT2 inhibitors (dapagliflozin in DAPA-CKD: 39% risk reduction in ESKD/death; HR 0.61) and finerenone โ offer genuine hope for slowing progression but remain unaffordable in most of Africa and South Asia.
39%
Risk reduction in ESKD/death with dapagliflozin (DAPA-CKD trial) โ HR 0.61 โ KDIGO recommended
DAPA-CKD Trial ยท KDIGO 2024
2M+
People die annually from lack of access to kidney replacement therapy โ mostly in LMICs
ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas 2024
5th
CKD's projected rank as a cause of years of life lost globally by 2040 (from 12th now)
GBD 2017 projections ยท PMC9073222
๐ฌ How the Primary Statistic (788 million) Was Derived
| Primary Source | GBD 2023 Chronic Kidney Disease Collaborators. "Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease in adults, 1990โ2023, and its attributable risk factors: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023." The Lancet. Published 07 November 2025. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01853-7. Funded by Gates Foundation, Wellcome, US National Kidney Foundation, and NIDDK. |
| Population Scope | Adults aged 20 years and older. 204 countries and territories. GBD 2023 explicitly covers age 20+ for CKD; some earlier studies (GBD 2017/2021) reported all-age figures. This accounts for apparent differences between GBD cycles: the 843.6M figure from 2017 was all-age and used different methodology. |
| Data Sources Used | Published literature, vital registration systems (where available), kidney failure treatment registries, and household surveys. The Cause of Death Ensemble model and Bayesian meta-regression tool (DisMod-MR) produced the estimates. 100,983+ data sources were reviewed for GBD 2023. |
| CKD Definition | KDIGO 2012 criteria: eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73mยฒ and/or albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) โฅ30 mg/g for โฅ3 months, regardless of cause. This is the internationally accepted diagnostic standard. Variation in which GFR equation is used (CKD-EPI, MDRD, CG) affects country-level estimates โ especially in Africa. |
| Uncertainty Range | 788 million (95% UI: 743โ843 million). The uncertainty interval reflects data availability, modelling assumptions, and variation in underlying registries. Countries with complete vital registration have tighter intervals; African countries (with limited data) have wider intervals. |
| Why GBD Estimates Differ by Year | GBD 2017: 843.6M (all ages, older methodology) ยท GBD 2021: 673โ674M (revised methodology, now age 20+, different albuminuria inclusion) ยท GBD 2023: 788M (most comprehensive; 1990โ2023 range; adults 20+). These differences are methodological, not contradictory. GBD 2023 is the most current and authoritative. |
| Last Updated | April 2025. Primary source published November 2025 (GBD 2023). This is the most recent major global CKD estimate available. |
๐
Last Updated: April 2025 ยท Primary source: GBD 2023 CKD Collaborators, The Lancet, November 2025 ยท Secondary: ISN GKHA 2024 ยท KDIGO 2024 guidelines ยท PMC meta-analyses 2022โ2025
788 million people aged 20 and older worldwide have chronic kidney disease (CKD) as of 2023 โ representing a global age-standardised adult prevalence of 14.2% (95% uncertainty interval: 743โ843 million; 13.4โ15.2%). This figure comes from the GBD 2023 Chronic Kidney Disease Collaborators, published in The Lancet on 07 November 2025 (doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01853-7), funded by the Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, US National Kidney Foundation, and NIDDK. It covers 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023, using data from published literature, vital registration, kidney failure registries, and household surveys. For comparison, in 1990 there were 378 million people with CKD โ meaning the global burden has more than doubled in 33 years. The global median CKD prevalence is also reported as 9.5% (IQR 5.9โ11.7%) by the ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas 2024 (Lancet Global Health, 2024) โ a slightly lower figure reflecting median across all countries rather than population-weighted global prevalence. Both figures are valid; the 14.2% global age-standardised estimate from GBD 2023 is the most comprehensive and methodologically rigorous. (Sources: GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet Nov 2025 ยท ISN GKHA ยท Lancet Global Health 2024)
CKD caused 1.48 million deaths globally in 2023 (95% UI: 1.30โ1.65 million), making it the 9th leading cause of death worldwide according to GBD 2023 (The Lancet, November 2025). In addition, CKD is the 12th leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), with an age-standardised DALY rate of 769.2 per 100,000. Beyond its direct mortality, impaired kidney function as a risk factor accounts for 11.5% of all cardiovascular deaths globally โ meaning CKD's contribution to the global death toll is far larger than its direct death count suggests. Separately, the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) estimates that over 2 million people die annually from lack of access to kidney replacement therapy โ these patients reach end-stage kidney disease but cannot access dialysis or transplant, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. GBD 2021 reported 1.5 million direct CKD deaths. The trajectory from 1990 to 2023 shows consistent increase: CKD moved from the 27th cause of death in 1990 to the 12th in 2017 to the 9th in 2023. (Sources: GBD 2023 ยท The Lancet Nov 2025 ยท ISN GKHA 2024)
The leading causes of CKD globally are: (1) Diabetes mellitus (diabetic kidney disease / DKD): The single largest contributor โ diabetic nephropathy accounts for approximately 32% of all CKD DALYs globally (GBD 2017). In people with diabetes, 11โ83.7% develop CKD in Africa (PMC systematic review). (2) Hypertension (high blood pressure): The second major cause; hypertensive nephrosclerosis progressively damages glomeruli. CKD prevalence among hypertensive US adults was 35.8% vs 10.2% in normotensives. (3) Glomerulonephritis: Immune-mediated kidney inflammation โ particularly IgA nephropathy in East Asia; post-infectious glomerulonephritis in sub-Saharan Africa. (4) CKD of Unknown Aetiology (CKDu): Particularly prominent in sub-Saharan Africa, Sri Lanka, and Central America โ linked to environmental toxins, heat stress, and pesticide exposure; accounts for up to 65.8% of CKD in some East African populations. (5) APOL1 gene variants: G1 and G2 variants common in West African populations confer dramatically elevated CKD risk โ up to 50% lifetime risk for HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), OR 10.5โ16.9 for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. (6) Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD): Genetic; ~1 in 1,000 globally. (7) AKI progression: Non-recovery from acute kidney injury progresses to CKD โ especially from malaria, sepsis, obstetric complications in sub-Saharan Africa. (Sources: GBD 2023 ยท PMC9073222 ยท MDPI Applied Sci 2023 ยท Wiley Nephrology 2024)
Nigeria's CKD prevalence varies significantly depending on the diagnostic equation used and the population studied. A systematic review (PMC5968792, 2018) of 7 population-based Nigerian studies found: Using Cockcroft-Gault equation: 24.4โ26% prevalence. Using MDRD equation: 2.5โ14.2% (most studies: 12.3โ14.2%). Using CKD-EPI equation: 11.4% (one study). The review concluded that CKD prevalence in Nigeria is high but variable, influenced by equation choice. Nigerian population studies have identified these key risk factors: hypertension (most common), diabetes mellitus, obesity, family history of kidney or hypertensive disease, use of traditional herbal medications (a major, underappreciated nephrotoxic risk in Nigeria), and HIV. In Nigeria, unlike high-income countries, chronic glomerulonephritis and interstitial nephritis from infections (malaria, schistosomiasis, HIV, HBV) remain important causes alongside NCDs โ the "double burden." CKD of unknown aetiology (CKDu) accounts for up to 21.5% of all renal admissions in Nigeria. The treatment gap in Nigeria is severe: chronic dialysis is not publicly funded, relies entirely on private payment, and costs โฆ150,000โโฆ400,000+ per month โ unaffordable for most Nigerians. Fewer than 5 nephrologists per million people serve the country. (Sources: PMC5968792 ยท Lancet GH 2024 ยท Wiley Nephrology 2024 ยท MDPI 2023)
CKD stages 1โ3 can often be significantly slowed or stabilised with proper treatment, and in some early cases (where the underlying cause is corrected), kidney function can partially recover. However, CKD is generally progressive and cannot be reversed once significant nephron loss occurs. Key evidence-based treatments include: (1) SGLT2 inhibitors (dapagliflozin, empagliflozin): The landmark DAPA-CKD trial showed a 39% risk reduction in ESKD, โฅ50% eGFR decline, or death (HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.51โ0.72; p<0.001), regardless of diabetes status. Now the standard of care in KDIGO 2024 guidelines for CKD with proteinuria. (2) ACE inhibitors / ARBs (e.g. lisinopril, losartan): Reduce proteinuria and slow progression โ essential for diabetic and hypertensive nephropathy; inexpensive and widely available. (3) Blood pressure control: Target <130/80 mmHg in CKD โ reducing BP dramatically slows progression. (4) Finerenone: Non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist โ reduces ESKD and CV outcomes in CKD with type 2 diabetes. (5) Blood sugar control in diabetes: HbA1c <7% target prevents DKD onset and slows progression. (6) Renal replacement therapy (dialysis/transplant): For Stage 5 ESKD โ kidney transplant is far superior to dialysis in outcomes. For Nigeria: ACE inhibitors are available and affordable through NHIA. SGLT2 inhibitors are increasingly available in private pharmacies but expensive. Finerenone is not yet widely available. Early detection and BP/sugar control at primary care level are the most actionable interventions. (Sources: DAPA-CKD trial ยท KDIGO 2024 ยท KDIGO guidelines ยท PMC)
CKD is called the "silent disease" because it has essentially no symptoms until Stage 4 or 5 โ by which time significant, often irreversible, kidney damage has already occurred. This is why screening is critical for people with diabetes or hypertension. When symptoms do appear, they include: (1) Swelling (oedema): Puffy feet, ankles, and legs from fluid retention โ a sign of advanced CKD. (2) Persistent fatigue and weakness: Caused by anaemia (CKD impairs erythropoietin production) and uraemia (toxin build-up). (3) Changes in urination: Foamy urine (protein leaking into urine โ proteinuria), increased frequency at night (nocturia), decreased urine output in ESKD, or blood in urine. (4) Loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting: From uraemic toxin accumulation in Stages 4โ5. (5) High blood pressure that is difficult to control: CKD both causes and is worsened by hypertension. (6) Itchy skin: Phosphate and other waste build-up in Stages 4โ5. (7) Muscle cramps and bone pain: Mineral bone disorder from CKD. Screening approach: Any person with diabetes, hypertension, or family history of kidney disease should have annual screening โ a blood test (eGFR via serum creatinine) and urine test (albumin-to-creatinine ratio) performed at any hospital or laboratory. These are inexpensive, widely available in Nigeria, and can detect CKD years before symptoms appear. (Sources: KDIGO 2024 ยท WHO ยท PMC9073222 ยท ISN GKHA 2024)
The global CKD burden is projected to continue rising for three interconnected reasons: (1) Population ageing: Kidney function naturally declines with age; as populations in every world region age, a higher proportion of people will develop CKD even without any change in underlying risk factors. (2) The diabetes pandemic: Globally, over 537 million adults have diabetes (IDF 2021) and this is projected to reach 783 million by 2045. Diabetic kidney disease is the single largest cause of CKD โ every new diabetic patient is a future CKD risk. (3) The hypertension epidemic: Hypertension affects approximately 1.28 billion adults globally (WHO 2023) โ particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where urbanisation, salt-heavy diets, obesity, and lack of screening drive uncontrolled hypertension rates above 50% of all adults in some countries. (4) Rising obesity: Obesity directly damages kidneys through hyperfiltration, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance โ and accelerates both diabetes and hypertension. (5) Limited prevention in LMICs: Most CKD is preventable through diabetes and hypertension control โ but in LMICs, these conditions are often diagnosed late and poorly managed. GBD projections: CKD is expected to become the 5th leading cause of years of life lost globally by 2040 (PMC9073222 citing GBD projections). The burden in sub-Saharan Africa will grow disproportionately as the continent urbanises and adopts risk-increasing lifestyle patterns. (Sources: GBD 2023 ยท PMC9073222 ยท GBD 2017 projections ยท WHO 2023 hypertension data)
๐ How to Cite This Page
Copy your preferred citation format below. For permission to reproduce charts, contact [email protected]
APA (7th Edition)
Enavec Pharmacy Data Team. (2025, April). How many people have chronic kidney disease globally? [2025 statistics, data & trends]. Enavec Pharmacy. https://enavecpharmacy.com/how-many-people-have-chronic-kidney-disease-globally-2025-statistics-data-trends/
MLA (9th Edition)
Enavec Pharmacy Data Team. "How Many People Have Chronic Kidney Disease Globally? [2025 Statistics, Data & Trends]." Enavec Pharmacy, Apr. 2025, enavecpharmacy.com/how-many-people-have-chronic-kidney-disease-globally-2025-statistics-data-trends/.
Plain Text
Enavec Pharmacy (April 2025). How Many People Have Chronic Kidney Disease Globally? Primary source: GBD 2023 CKD Collaborators, The Lancet (doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01853-7), November 2025. Secondary: ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas (Lancet Global Health, 2024); PMC meta-analyses 2021โ2025. URL: https://enavecpharmacy.com/how-many-people-have-chronic-kidney-disease-globally-2025-statistics-data-trends/
Primary data source: GBD 2023 Chronic Kidney Disease Collaborators. The Lancet. Published 07 November 2025. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01853-7. For permission to reproduce charts, contact [email protected]
๐ Primary References & Data Sources
1
GBD 2023 Chronic Kidney Disease Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease in adults, 1990โ2023, and its attributable risk factors: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. The Lancet. 07 November 2025. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01853-7. IHME, University of Washington.
2
Bello AK, Okpechi IG, Levin A et al. An update on the global disparities in kidney disease burden and care across world countries and regions. Lancet Global Health. 2024;12:e382โe395. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00570-3. ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas.
3
PMC12267038 (2025). Global burden of chronic kidney disease and its attributable risk factors (1990โ2021): an analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease study. "In 2021, 674 million individuals were affected worldwide." PubMed Central.
4
PMC12366504 (2025). Global burden of chronic kidney disease and risk factors, 1990โ2021: an update from the global burden of disease study 2021. "In 2021, CKD remained a significant global burden, with 673 million prevalent cases and 1.5 million deaths." PubMed Central.
5
Lv JC, Zhang LX. Prevalence and disease burden of chronic kidney disease. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 2019. PMC9073222 (update 2022): "Affecting an estimated 843.6 million individuals worldwide in 2017." CKD: 9th leading cause of death 2023 trajectory.
6
GBD 2017 CKD Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990โ2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet. 2020. PMC7049905. Diabetic nephropathy: ~32% of CKD DALYs.
7
Hill NR, Fatoba ST, Oke JL et al. Global Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease โ A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS ONE. 2016. PMC4934905. "Global mean CKD prevalence 13.4% (11.7โ15.1%); stages 3โ5: 10.6%."
8
Ulasi II, Ijoma CK. Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Nigeria: systematic review of population-based studies. PMC5968792. 2018. CKD prevalence 2.5โ26% depending on equation; key Nigerian risk factors identified.
9
Fiseha T et al. Chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology in Africa: A review of the literature. Nephrology. Wiley. 2024. doi:10.1111/nep.14264. "Up to 21.5% of all renal admissions in Nigeria attributable to CKDu."
10
Naicker S et al. Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease in Africa. Applied Sciences (MDPI). 2023. APOL1 G1/G2 variants; HIV-associated nephropathy; SGLT2 inhibitors in African context.
11
NephJC Global Kidney Atlas Review. The Worldwide Shadow of Kidney Disease โ ISN GKHA 2024. NephJC. October 2024. Shortages of nephrologists in 107/167 countries (64%). KRT varies 200-fold between rich/poor regions.
12
DAPA-CKD Trial / Heerspink HJL et al. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. NEJM. 2020. HR 0.61 (95% CI 0.51โ0.72) for ESKD/sustained โฅ50% eGFR decline/death. Basis for KDIGO SGLT2 inhibitor recommendation.
13
ScienceDirect 2025. The public health impacts of chronic kidney disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A call for action. "CKD is becoming a significant area of concern in sub-Saharan Africa." Extreme economic burden of dialysis; weak healthcare infrastructure.
Know Your Kidney Function โ Ask Enavec Pharmacy
CKD affects 1 in 10 adults and has no symptoms until advanced stages. If you have diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of kidney disease, you should be tested annually. Our pharmacists can advise on kidney function tests available near you, blood pressure management, and NAFDAC-approved medications that protect the kidneys.
โ๏ธ This page is for educational and data journalism purposes only. All statistics are sourced and cited. For medical advice, consult a qualified healthcare professional. No product prices are quoted in this article.
Found this helpful? Share it:
⚠️
Medical & Affiliate Disclaimer This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any supplement or medication. Some links in this post are affiliate links - if you purchase through them, Enavec Pharmacy may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
