Why chronic kidney disease is rising worldwide
Mar 17th 2026
Global CKD cases have nearly doubled since 1990, making kidney disease a top cause of death while most people affected remain undiagnosed and causes vary by region.
- Worldwide CKD cases grew from 378 million in 1990 to 788 million in 2023.
- CKD was the ninth-leading cause of adult deaths and the 12th-leading cause of lost healthy years in 2023.
- In the U.S. researchers estimate more than one in seven adults have CKD and nine in ten people with the disease are unaware they have it.
- Major drivers include diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, medication side effects, severe dehydration, infections and urinary tract blockages.
- Regional patterns differ, with high diabetes-linked rates in Oceania and the Middle East and genetic risk variants implicated in West Africa and Central America.
- Population growth and aging partly explain the rise, but CKD is increasing faster than several other leading causes of death.
- CKD is classified in five stages based on kidney function, and stage-specific treatment can slow or limit further damage.
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