India diabetes population: India had an estimated 90 million adults living with diabetes in 2024, the second-highest total in the world after China, according to new global estimates published in a medical journal focused on diabetes and endocrinology. China ranked first with about 148 million adults affected, while the United States placed third with roughly 39 million.
The report said countries with large populations account for a major share of diabetes cases worldwide, naming China, India, the United States and Pakistan among the biggest contributors. Looking ahead, the researchers projected that Pakistan’s diabetes burden could grow enough to surpass that of the United States by 2050.
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The estimates are drawn from the latest edition of an international diabetes atlas that compiles national, regional and global prevalence for 2024 and projects trends through mid-century. The analysis covered 215 countries and territories and was based on data from 246 studies conducted between 2005 and 2024.
Worldwide, an estimated 589 million adults aged 20 to 79 were living with diabetes in 2024, more than 11% of the global adult population. The number is projected to rise to about 853 million by 2050, close to 13% of adults in that age group.
The report also found that diabetes is increasingly concentrated in low- and middle-income countries. More than four-fifths of adults living with diabetes in 2024 were estimated to be in those economies, and they are expected to account for more than 95% of the global increase in cases by 2050.
Researchers linked the expected rise to population growth, longer life expectancy and continued urbanisation, trends that typically increase exposure to risk factors for chronic metabolic disease. They also warned that tracking the true scale of diabetes remains difficult in many lower-resource settings and said stronger support for data collection will be needed as prevalence rises.
By age group, diabetes prevalence climbed steadily and peaked at nearly 25% among adults aged 75 to 79. The condition was more common among men than women, and rates were higher in urban areas than rural ones.
When grouped by national income level, middle-income countries recorded the highest prevalence, at about 11.46% of adults aged 20 to 79. High-income countries followed at about 10.21%, and low-income countries had the lowest prevalence, at about 7.47%.
The researchers said the findings show the diabetes epidemic has continued to expand since the early 2000s, and they called for stronger efforts to slow the trend using prevention and treatment strategies tailored to local conditions and population needs.