Hearing Loss Statistics: Global Facts and Figures

How Common Is Hearing Loss Worldwide?

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 1.5 billion people live with some degree of hearing loss. Around 430 million people—more than 5% of the world’s population—require rehabilitation for disabling hearing loss.

The global number is expected to rise as populations grow and age. By 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss, and more than 700 million—about 1 in 10—may require hearing rehabilitation.

The burden is not distributed evenly. Nearly 80% of people with disabling hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries, where access to ear and hearing care may be limited.

Different studies may produce different prevalence figures because they use different hearing thresholds, age groups, testing methods, and definitions. Understanding what a number means is therefore just as important as the number itself.

Global Hearing Loss Statistics at a Glance[1][2]

Note: These WHO estimates are based on hearing loss in the better-hearing ear and therefore do not fully capture unilateral hearing loss, including single-sided deafness (SSD). As a result, the total number of people experiencing clinically significant hearing loss may be higher than these figures suggest.

Hearing Loss Across World Regions

Global totals can hide important regional differences. For a consistent comparison, the table below uses estimates from the WHO’s 2021 World Report on Hearing for hearing loss of moderate or higher grade across all six WHO regions. These regions are public-health groupings and do not follow every political or continental boundary[2].

Europe in Context

In the European Region, 6.2% of the population, 57.3 million people, are estimated to experience moderate-or-higher hearing loss. If milder degrees of hearing loss are considered, the number is much higher: 190 million people—around 1 in 5 people in the region—are estimated to experience at least some form of hearing loss.

It is also important to keep in mind that the WHO European Region is broader than the European Union and includes 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia and should not be equated with the EU[3].

Hearing Loss and Deafness: Why the Statistics Differ

Questions about the number of people who are deaf do not have one universally applicable answer. Hearing loss and deafness are not interchangeable terms, and definitions can vary across clinical, social, cultural, and identity contexts.

Hearing loss can range from mild to profound and may affect one or both ears. The WHO explains that deaf people mostly experience profound hearing loss, which translates to very little or no hearing.

Population estimates can differ depending on the definition of hearing loss used, the age structure of the population, the availability of local data, and the methods used to produce the estimates. For example, WHO regional estimates draw on evidence from population-based hearing studies and other epidemiological data, which are combined using statistical modelling to estimate prevalence across countries and regions. This means that estimates may rely more heavily on modelling in places where direct population data are limited.

This is why there is no single percentage that can describe every person with hearing loss.

Hearing Loss Statistics by Age

Hearing loss can affect people at any stage of life, but its prevalence generally increases with age. More than 25% of people over the age of 60 are affected by disabling hearing loss worldwide.

Children and Young Adults

Around 95.1 million children aged 5-19 live with hearing loss worldwide. Some children are born with hearing loss, while others develop it later because of genetic factors, infections, chronic ear conditions, injuries, noise exposure, or other causes. Knowing the signs of hearing loss in children can help parents and caregivers recognize potential hearing difficulties and seek support when needed.

The WHO estimates that more than 1 billion young adults are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss because of unsafe listening practices, including exposure to loud music and entertainment sound[1].

Adults and Older Adults

Age-related hearing loss, also called presbycusis, usually develops gradually. This is why many people may not immediately realize how much their hearing has changed.

Age is not the only factor. A person’s hearing can also be influenced by genetics, health conditions, medications, work environments, recreational noise, and access to preventative care and hearing services.

Country Spotlight: Hearing Loss by Age in the United States

For the United States, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) reports the following figures[4]:

The WHO and NIDCD numbers should not be compared directly as they use different measures and thresholds. Besides, some NIDCD statistics include also SSD and UHL, for example, the numbers related to “trouble hearing”.

What Are the Main Risk Factors for Hearing Loss?

There is no single cause for hearing loss. Different risk factors can affect hearing before birth, during childhood, and throughout adult life.

Aging

Changes in the inner ear can occur gradually as we get older. Age-related hearing loss often affects both ears and may make speech, especially speech in noise, more difficult to understand.

Loud Noise

Repeated or intense exposure to loud noise can damage delicate structures in the inner ear, including sensory hair cells. Potential sources include loud workplaces, power tools, concerts and other entertainment venues, and personal audio devices used at unsafe volumes.

Protecting your ears around loud sounds, taking listening breaks, and following safe listening practices can help reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.

Other Risk Factors

Hearing loss can also be associated with genetic factors, sex, infections, chronic ear conditions, injuries, certain health conditions, smoking, trauma, and ototoxic medications that can damage hearing.

Because there are many possible causes and types of hearing loss, a professional hearing assessment is important if you notice any changes to your hearing.

Why Hearing Loss Statistics Matter

Hearing loss statistics show that hearing difficulties are common, affect people in every region of the world, and that many individuals with hearing loss remain undiagnosed or untreated.

Unaddressed hearing loss can significantly affect communication, social participation, education, employment, and everyday quality of life. The WHO identifies it as a significant global public health issue and estimates that unaddressed hearing loss amounts to an annual global cost of almost US$ 1 trillion.

Statistics can provide useful context, yet they don’t address your individual hearing situation. The only way to reliably tell whether you experience hearing loss, and what type and degree, is to have your hearing assessed by a professional[1].

Depending on the type and degree of hearing loss, hearing aids or other assistive technology can help. For those who experience severe-to-profound hearing loss, cochlear implants and other implantable hearing solutions can be discussed with a hearing care professional.

The right solution depends on your individual hearing, needs, and professional assessment.

Key Global Hearing Loss Takeaways

Hearing loss is common worldwide and can affect people at every stage of life. Every region of the world is affected, although prevalence, population totals, and access to care differ. Because statistics use different definitions, assessment methods and reporting frameworks, it is important to keep in mind that not all figures can be compared directly to each other.

Despite advances in prevention and treatment, hearing loss remains substantially underdiagnosed and undertreated worldwide. For individuals, it‘s best to talk to your hearing professional as soon as possible if you experience any changes to your hearing.