What Is The World Wide Number Of Cases Of Rosacea?

[Guide]

This is a controversial subject. Reports indicate that worldwide the number of rosacea sufferers are between 5% and 10%,

A report in 2024 states, "Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder that affects more than 5% of the world's population, with the number increasing every year." [20] If rosacea 'affects more than 5% of the world's population' that would mean according to the World Population Clock showing 8.01 billion as the current number in 2024, that there are up to 400,500,000 cases of rosacea worldwide!

A report released in 2022 states, "Rosacea affects up to 10% of the world population..." [19] If rosacea "affects up to 10% of the world population" that would mean according to the World Population Clock showing 7.9 billion as the current number in 2022, that there are up to 790,000,000 cases of rosacea worldwide!

A report released in 2018 concluded, "We estimated the global prevalence of rosacea based on published data and found that 5.46% of the adult population is affected." [1] 

The total world population as of April 2018 is 7.6 billion according to WorldoMeters, therefore, this would indicate there are 414,960,000 rosacea sufferers worldwide if you use the above 5.46% global prevalence rate. 

All the reports on the number of rosaceans worldwide are based upon estimates. For example, one report states, "The prevalence of rosacea across populations has been reported to range from less than 1% to 22%." [2]

The NRS insists there are 16 million rosacea sufferers in the USA [3], however, there is no hard data to prove this.

One report says "In the US: More than 10% of the general population exhibits dermatologic characteristics of rosacea …" [4]

Using 10% as the prevalence rate, the total US population in 2007 was over 302,453,619. That would mean there are over 30 million in the US who 'exhibit dermatologic characteristics of rosacea' based on this report. 

Another report says, "It is a common disease that afflicts one out of every 20 Americans." [5] Wikipedia reports, "As of August 13, 2016, the United States has a total resident population of 324,227,000..." That would mean 16 million Americans have rosacea which is what the NRS reports as the same number. [3]

Other countries report different variance rates and are mentioned in replies to this initial post (scroll below).

One report says the worldwide number of rosacea sufferers is 45 million. [6]

"According to AZoNetwork, a leading health care, life science online publisher in the U.K., the prevalence rate of rosacea is 1.65 per 1,000 person every year." [7] According to Wikipedia, "the world population is the total number of humans currently living. As of August 2016, it was estimated at 7.4 billion." So according to AZoNetwork the math shows the rosacea 'prevalence rate' worldwide is 12,210,000 'every year'. 

One report estimates the worldwide number of rosacea cases to be 3% of the world population. [8] That would be 225,000,000 cases of rosacea worldwide! Another paper says, "Around 1 in 10 people in the world are affected by rosacea." [9] If that is true, then there are 750,000,000 rosacea sufferers worldwide without any data to show how this ratio is obtained.  

"In 2010, the worldwide prevalence of rosacea was 10% of the world population." [10] In 2010 the world population was estimated to be 6,848,932,929 so 10% would be 684.8 million rosaceans. 

A conservative figure that 5.46% of the world population in April 2018 have rosacea would put the number at 415 million rosaceans, which is a significant number of rosacea sufferers worldwide. 

On July 11, 2018, the NRS posted a press release with this same number, 415 million. What a coincidence? Where did they get this data? [11]

The British Guidelines in Practice reports "an overall prevalence of around 10%." [12]

"Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin condition affecting approximately 5% of the world population." [13]

In China one paper noted, "Rosacea was observed in 3.48% (95% confidence interval, 3.13-3.85%) of the study population." [14]

"It has a broad worldwide distribution (5% affected, globally),...The worldwide distribution of rosacea appears to range from 2% to 22%. Estimates in relation to prevalence in different countries are: Estonia 20%, Germany 12%, Sweden 10%, Russia 5%, United States 5%, Colombia 3%, France 3%. The rates for countries such as China, Brazil, India, and Australia are not reliably recognized." [15]

"Self-reported rosacea gave higher prevalence estimates than rosacea diagnosed by clinical examination, suggesting a low specificity of questionnaires based on symptoms." [16]

"Rosacea is a chronic skin condition estimated to affect more than 5% of adults worldwide." [17]

"Rosacea affects about 10% of the population with a greater risk of sun-sensitive fair skin." [18]

Note: We will continue to report any news on this subject at this post. 

Current World Population

According to the World Population Clock, as of May 27, 2021, the world population is now 7.9 billion. 

Conclusion
A conservative figure for the worldwide cases of rosacea is around 415 million. The actual number may be higher. 

Reply to this Topic

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End Notes

[1] Br J Dermatol. 2018 Feb 25. doi: 10.1111/bjd.16481. [Epub ahead of print]
Incidence and Prevalence of Rosacea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Gether L, Overgaard LK, Egeberg A, Thyssen JP.

[2] N Engl J Med. 2017 Nov 2;377(18):1754-1764. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp1506630.
Rosacea.
van Zuuren EJ.

[3] Rosacea Now Estimated to Affect at Least 16 Million Americans, NRS

[4] Ocular Rosacea
J Bradley Randleman, MD; Chief Editor: Hampton Roy Sr, MD
MedScape

[5] rosacea, encyclopedia, Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine 

[6] Research and Markets: Acne & Rosacea Therapeutics: Ten Emerging Acne and Rosacea Therapies in Phase and Clinical Development Expected to launch by 2009.

[7] The Transparency Market Research uses "prevalence rate" which may mean new or it may mean existing or all the cases known. This is an example of an unreliable report on the number of rosacea suffers since it doesn't state if this is worldwide figure or not.
 Persistent Facial Erythema Treatment Market driven by large research and development activities

[8] The potential role of Demodex folliculorum mites and bacteria in the induction of rosacea.
J Med Microbiol. 2012 Aug 29;
Jarmuda S, O'Reilly N, Zaba R, Jakubowicz O, Szkaradkiewicz A, Kavanagh K

[9] Int J Med Sci. 2015; 12(5): 387–396.
Published online 2015 May 5. doi:  10.7150/ijms.10608
PMCID: PMC4441063
Major Pathophysiological Correlations of Rosacea: A Complete Clinical Appraisal
Ravi Chandra Vemuri, Rohit Gundamaraju, Shamala Devi Sekaran, and Rishya Manikam

[10] An Bras Dermatol. 2018 Nov-Dec; 93(6): 836–842. 
doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20187192; PMCID: PMC6256224; PMID: 30484528
Rosacea-specific quality of life questionnaire: translation, cultural adaptation and validation for Brazilian Portuguese*
Flávia Cisi Tannus, Fabíola Rosa Picosse, Juliana Marques Soares, and Edileia Bagatin

[11] New Study Finds 415 Million People May Suffer from Rosacea Worldwide, NRS Press Release

[12] Rosacea: newer treatments can avoid antibiotics, Dr George Moncrieff
Dr. Moncreiff cites a reference to the 10% prevalence rate with the following: 
Spoendlin J, Voegel J, Jick S, Meier C. A study on the epidemiology of rosacea in the U.K. Br J Dermatol 2012; 167 (3): 598–605.

[13] J Med Case Rep. 2020 Jan 28;14(1):22
Coupled blue and red light-emitting diodes therapy efficacy in patients with rosacea: two case reports.
Sorbellini E, De Padova MP, Rinaldi F

[14] J Dermatol. 2020 Mar 24;:
Epidemiological features of rosacea in Changsha, China: A population-based, cross-sectional study.
 Li J, Wang B, Deng Y, Shi W, Jian D, Liu F, Huang Y, Tang Y, Zhao Z, Huang X, Li J, Xie H

[15] An Bras Dermatol. 2020 Nov-Dec; 95(Suppl 1): 53–69.
Consensus on the therapeutic management of rosacea – Brazilian Society of Dermatology
Clivia Maria Moraes de Oliveira, Luiz Mauricio Costa Almeida, Renan Rangel Bonamigo, Carla Wanderley Gayoso de Lima, Ediléia Bagatinf

[16] Br J Dermatol. 2018 Aug;179(2):282-289.  doi: 10.1111/bjd.16481. Epub 2018 May 31.
Incidence and prevalence of rosacea: a systematic review and meta-analysis
L Gether, L K Overgaard, A Egeberg, J P Thyssen  

[17] Lasers Surg Med. 2021 Jan; 53(1): 55–65.
Oxymetazoline and Energy‐Based Therapy in Patients with Rosacea: Evaluation of the Safety and Tolerability in an Open‐Label, Interventional Study
Emil A. Tanghetti, MD, David J. Goldberg, MD, JD,  Jeffrey S. Dover, MD, FRCPC,  Roy G. Geronemus, MD,  Zane Bai,  Nancy Alvandi, Stuart D. Shanler, MD, FAAD, FACMS 

[18] Mol Vis. 2021; 27: 323–353.
Cutaneous and ocular rosacea: Common and specific physiopathogenic mechanisms and study models
Daniela Rodrigues-Braz, Min Zhao, Nilufer Yesilirmak, Selim Aractingi, Francine Behar-Cohen, Jean-Louis Bourges

[19] PubMed RSS Feed - -Rosacea Management: A Comprehensive Review

[20] PubMed RSS Feed - -Recent Advances in the Management of Rosacea through Natural Compounds
 

[Guide]

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2016 Mar;30(3):428-34. doi: 10.1111/jdv.13556.

Prevalence of rosacea in the general population of Germany and Russia - The RISE study.

Tan J, Schöfer H, Araviiskaia E, Audibert F, Kerrouche N, Berg M; RISE study group.

 

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

There is an unmet need for general population-based epidemiological data on rosacea based on contemporary diagnostic criteria and validated population survey methodology.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the prevalence of rosacea in the general population of Germany and Russia.

METHODS:

General population screening was conducted in 9-10 cities per country to ensure adequate geographic representation. In Part I of this two-phase study, screening of a representative sample of the general population (every fifth person or every fifth door using a fixed-step procedure on a random route sample) was expedited with use of a questionnaire and algorithm based on current diagnostic criteria for rosacea. Of the subjects that screened positive in the initial phase, a randomly selected sample (every third subject) t`hen underwent diagnostic confirmation by a dermatologist in Part II.

RESULTS:

A total of 3052 and 3013 subjects (aged 18-65 years) were screened in Germany and Russia respectively. Rosacea prevalence was 12.3% [95%CI, 10.2-14.4] in Germany and 5.0% [95%CI, 2.8-7.2] in Russia. The profile of subjects with rosacea (75% women; mean age of 40 years; mainly skin phototype II or III, majority of subjects with sensitive facial skin) and subtype distribution were similar. Overall, 18% of subjects diagnosed with rosacea were aged 18-30 years. Over 80% were not previously diagnosed. Within the previous year, 47.5% of subjects had received no rosacea care and 23.7% had received topical and/or systemic drugs. Over one-third (35% Germany, 43% Russia) of rosacea subjects reported a moderate to severe adverse impact on quality of life.

CONCLUSION:

Rosacea is highly prevalent in Germany (12.3%) and Russia (5.0%). The demographic profile of rosacea subjects was similar between countries and the majority were previously undiagnosed.

© 2016 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

[Guide]

"Acne rosacea, or more commonly called just rosacea, affects 14 million people in the U.S., or five percent of the population, and is sometimes said to be an adult version of acne vulgaris."

Rosacea affects 5 percent of population, Richard P. Holm, Medical Doctor, Argus Leader, Part of the USA Network, Dec 11, 2017