Headache disorders affect 3 billion people worldwide, ranking sixth for health loss in 2023
Headache disorders affected almost 3 billion people worldwide in 2023—nearly one in every three people, a figure unchanged since 1990—and ranked sixth among causes of health loss, according to new research published in The Lancet Neurology. The analysis is part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study and estimated health loss from migraine, tension-type headache, and medication-overuse headache from 1990 through 2023.
The study, led by researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), examined the health loss resulting from headache disorders and how long people have headaches across different ages and sexes. Health loss was measured in years lived with disability (YLDs), capturing the total time people spend living with health conditions that limit daily activities and overall well-being. Drawing on population-based studies worldwide, the analysis provides a comprehensive picture of how headache disorders affect daily life and overall health.
In 2023, headache disorders accounted for an age-standardized rate of 541.9 YLDs per 100,000 people, ranking sixth among all causes of disability globally. The burden of headache disorders was more than twice as high among women as men, with rates of 739.9 and 346.1 YLDs per 100,000, respectively. Across every age group, women consistently spent more time experiencing headache symptoms than men.
Migraine, though less common, drives most of the global burden of headache disorders, accounting for about 90% of headache-attributed YLDs. In 2023, migraine alone caused an estimated 40.9 million YLDs globally, with an age-standardized rate of 487.5 YLDs per 100,000. Tension-type headache, while more prevalent, accounted for 54.4 YLDs per 100,000. Medication-overuse headache further amplifies this burden, affecting relatively few but contributing substantially to population-level disability.
The study emphasizes the preventable nature of a large part of the global headache burden. Integrating headache services into primary care, especially in low- and middle-income countries where effective treatments are scarce, could reduce lost productivity and improve quality of life for millions of people. Improved care and education are key to reducing the global burden of headache disorders, as access to appropriate care and education on safe medication use remains limited in many settings.
The findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen prevention, management, and access to care for headache disorders worldwide. With greater awareness and coordinated action, much of the global burden of headache disorders can be prevented.
For more information, you can visit The Lancet Neurology’s website at www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(25)00402-8/fulltext.
This article was provided by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
