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Incidence of Anemia

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I now have comprehensive data from authoritative sources. Here is a full synthesis:

Incidence and Epidemiology of Anemia

Definition

Anemia is defined as blood counts (hemoglobin/hematocrit) below normal for a given population. The WHO uses hemoglobin thresholds: <13 g/dL in adult men, <12 g/dL in non-pregnant adult women, and <11 g/dL in pregnant women. - Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 22E

Global Burden

Anemia is one of the most common conditions worldwide, representing a major public health problem affecting billions of people across all age groups and regions.
Population GroupEstimated Prevalence
Children aged 6-59 months~40% globally
Pregnant women~37% globally (>40% in low-income countries)
Non-pregnant women aged 15-49~30% globally
Preschool children~25%
Young women (12-21 years, USA)Iron deficiency 38.6%; IDA 6.3%
Source: WHO Anaemia Fact Sheet (February 2025)
  • Anemia caused 50 million years of healthy life lost due to disability in 2019.
  • Low- and lower-middle income countries bear the greatest burden, particularly in rural settings and poorer households.

By Cause / Type

1. Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) - Most Common

  • Affects approximately ~1.2 billion individuals - roughly half of the world's anemic population.
  • Especially prevalent in preschool children (~25%), young women (37-40%), and pregnant women (>40% in severe forms in low-income countries).
  • Isolated iron deficiency (without anemia) is even more common.
  • Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 22E, p. 808; Henry's Clinical Diagnosis, p. 3115

2. Anemia of Inflammation (Anemia of Chronic Disease)

  • The second most common anemia worldwide, especially in hospitalized patients.
  • Caused by functional iron deficiency from cytokine-mediated hepcidin upregulation that blocks iron reutilization.
  • Harrison's, 22E

3. Pernicious Anemia (B12 Deficiency / Autoimmune)

  • Becomes more common with age.
  • Highest prevalence in persons of African or European ancestry; lower incidence in East Asians.
  • Goldman-Cecil Medicine

4. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA)

  • Can affect children (mainly before age 5) and adults.
  • Estimated overall annual incidence: 2.4 per 100,000 (not age-adjusted).
  • Goldman-Cecil Medicine

5. Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

  • Incidence and severity progressively increases at lower GFR.
  • Prevalence varies by CKD stage; NHANES and the Prevalence of Anemia in Early Renal Insufficiency (PAERI) study are key references.
  • Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology, 7th Edition; NKF Primer on Kidney Diseases, 8e

6. Anemia in HIV/AIDS

  • Highest incidence in patients not yet on antiretroviral therapy or with symptomatic AIDS.
  • Prevalence has decreased from 20-25% in the pre-ART era with effective antiretroviral treatment.
  • Goldman-Cecil Medicine

High-Risk Groups

  • Young children (6-59 months): 40% globally; high iron demands for growth
  • Pregnant women: 37%+ globally; increased iron/folate requirements
  • Adolescent girls: In the USA, 17.4% prevalence (ages 12-19, 2021-2023); CDC Data Brief, December 2024
  • Women of reproductive age (20-59): 14.0% in the USA
  • Elderly: Increasing prevalence with age, often multifactorial
  • People with chronic diseases: CKD, diabetes, heart failure, IBD, HIV
  • Refugee/displaced populations: Disproportionately high burden

Disparities

  • Racial/ethnic: In the USA, Black non-Hispanic individuals have the highest anemia prevalence (22.0%), compared to Asian (11.8%), Hispanic (10.9%), and White (6.1%) populations.
  • Sex: Females consistently have higher prevalence than males across all demographic groups.
  • Socioeconomic: Prevalence decreases with increasing income - from 14.1% in the lowest income tier to 5.7% in the highest. - CDC NCHS Data Brief 519, 2024

Global Targets and Progress

In 2012, the World Health Assembly set a target to reduce anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age by 50% by 2025. As of 2025, only 18 countries (10% of all countries) have shown progress toward this target - the world is not on track. In the USA, anemia in females 15-49 actually increased from 7.8% (2000) to 11.5% (2018). - WHO Global Anaemia Estimates 2025

Key Takeaways

  • Iron deficiency is the single most common cause of anemia (~50% of all cases, ~1.2 billion people affected).
  • Anemia of inflammation is second most common, particularly in hospitalized patients.
  • The highest burden falls on young children, pregnant women, and those in low-income countries.
  • Significant disparities exist by race, sex, and socioeconomic status.
  • Global progress toward WHO 2025 targets has been inadequate, and targets remain largely unmet.
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