Herpes statistics 2026

In this article:

• What is herpes?
• How common is herpes?
• Herpes and overall health
• Cost
• Risk factors
• Prevention
• Treatment

In this article

• What is herpes?
• How common is herpes?
• Herpes and overall health
• Cost
• Risk factors
• Prevention
• Treatment

Herpes is a virus that can spread through kissing, genital contact, and sharing personal objects. It never leaves the body and may or may not cause symptoms. Active flare-ups may result in itching, tingling, burning, and blister-like sores. 

In this article, we provide information on the prevalence of herpes across different populations. We also look at the symptoms that the infection may cause and risk factors that may increase its spread.

What is herpes?

Herpes simplex is a virus that causes painful blisters, ulcers, and sores on the mouth or genital area. It is a lifelong, incurable infection, but oral medications and creams can help relieve and prevent outbreaks. 

There are two types of herpes simplex:

• Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) most commonly affects the skin surrounding the face and mouth. Oral herpes, also known as cold sores or fever blisters, is a viral infection. HSV-1 can also cause symptoms in the genital area. 
• Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) causes genital herpes, which results in sores and blisters around the genitals, upper thighs, and anus. HSV-2 is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). 

People experiencing their first episode of herpes infection may develop:

• A sore throat
• Fever
• Body aches
• Swollen lymph nodes

To reach a diagnosis, healthcare providers take a history and perform a physical exam. They may also take a sample to a laboratory for testing or order a blood test to rule out other infectious diseases. At-home tests are available, but may be less accurate than laboratory tests done in a healthcare provider’s office.

How common is herpes?

• Most herpes infections do not cause symptoms or result in very mild symptoms. However, some people may have painful blisters that reappear multiple times. (World Health Organization, WHO, 2025)
• HSV-2 infections are more likely to affect women than men. (JAMA, 2022)
• Research estimates that 50–80% of adults in the United States have oral herpes. (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2026)
• Genital herpes infections occur in 1 out of 6 people in the U.S. between the ages of 14 and 49. (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2026)

Herpes statistics worldwide

• Around 3.8 billion people worldwide under 50 years old have HSV-1 infections. (WHO, 2025)
• Around 520 million people ages 15 to 49 have HSV-2 infections. (WHO, 2025)
• It is estimated that around 187 million people, or about 5% of the world’s population, had herpes-related genital ulcers in 2016. (WHO, 2020)

How many people in the U.S. have herpes?

• Researchers report that more than 50% of American adults have oral herpes. (ASHA, 2025)
• Seventy percent of people with genital herpes do not have symptoms and are unaware they have an infection. (JAMA, 2022)
• In 2018, there were an estimated 572,000 new genital herpes infection cases in the U.S. among those between the ages of 14 and 49. (Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 2021)
• The National Library of Medicine states that 1 in 1,000 newborns in the U.S. receive a diagnosis of neonatal herpes infection. The risk for this increases if the mother has developed a genital HSV infection for the first time during pregnancy. (NLM, 2023)
• There are an estimated 45 million adults living with HSV-2 in the U.S. (NLM, 2023)
• Around 25% of new cases of genital herpes in the U.S. are caused by HSV-1, typically transmitted through oral sex. (JAMA, 2022)

Herpes statistics by age

• Neonatal herpes is rare, and less than 0.1% of babies born in the U.S. each year have this condition. Research shows that 20–25% of pregnant women have genital herpes, but in most cases, it does not affect the fetus. (ASHA, 2023)
• Herpes is a lifelong infectious disease. Its prevalence increases as people age, but new cases occur mostly among adolescents. (WHO, 2023)
• Before the age of five, most people have been exposed to HSV-1. (HealthyChildren.org, 2025)

Herpes statistics by sex

• Researchers note that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men ages 14 to 49 years have genital herpes. (Office on Women’s Health, 2023)
• Women are more likely to be infected with HSV-2. The virus can spread through sexual contact more easily in the female anatomy. (NLM, 2024)

Herpes statistics by race and ethnicity

• HSV-2 infection rates are higher among non-Hispanic African Americans than non-Hispanic White people. (NLM, 2023)
• The Office on Women’s Health estimates that 1 in 2 African American women develops HSV-2 between the ages of 14 and 49. (Office on Women’s Health, 2023)
• Half of STI cases in the U.S. occur in young adults ages 15 to 24 years. (Journal of Adolescent Health, 2017)
• STI rates are lower among the Asian adolescent population. This could be because they are underrepresented in sexual health studies. (Journal of Adolescent Health, 2017)

Herpes and overall health

Herpes can affect people’s quality of life and cause complications: 

• HSV-2 infections can increase people’s risk of getting and spreading HIV infection. (WHO, 2025)
• People with a weak immune system or advanced HIV may have more frequent and severe herpes symptoms than those who are not immunocompromised. (WHO, 2025)
• Genital HSV infections can increase the risk for yeast infections and bladder problems, especially in those with new infections. HSV-1 infection may rarely cause meningitis and severe eye infections. (NLM, 2025)
• HSV-1 infection may increase the lifetime risk of dementia by more than 45%. (Neuroepidemiology, 2025)

The cost of herpes

• In 2019, genital herpes was responsible for more than $800 million in treatment costs and productivity losses in low- and middle-income countries around the world. (PLoS Med, 2022 )
• The lifetime direct medical costs of genital herpes in people ages 15 to 49 years were around $972 per treated case in the U.S. between 2010 and 2018. (Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 2021)

Risk factors for herpes

Herpes occurs when people become infected with the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Oral infections can spread through close contact, such as kissing, sharing personal items, or touching someone’s skin when they have an active infection, like a cold sore. 

Genital herpes can spread through genital contact or when people have a cold sore and perform oral sex, which can spread the infection to the genital area. 

Risk factors for genital herpes include:

• Being female
• Having multiple sexual partners
• Becoming sexually active at a younger age
• Having another STI
• Weakened immune function

When a person first gets infected with the herpes virus, the virus does not leave the body. It may or may not cause symptoms. Sometimes a herpes virus becomes active later on and causes an outbreak. Some people experience outbreaks when they are menstruating, stressed, or their skin is exposed to the sun. 

Herpes prevention

Some ways to lower the risk of genital herpes include:

• Using condoms when engaging in sexual activity
• Limiting the number of sexual partners 
• Getting tested for STIs
• Avoiding douching, as it can cause an overgrowth of harmful bacteria 

It’s best to avoid having sex if someone is experiencing an outbreak, as condoms may not cover all herpes sores. Healthcare providers can help people recognize symptoms when a flare-up is about to occur, such as burning, itching, and tingling. 

People should wash their hands with soap and water after touching a herpes sore. This helps reduce the risk of transmission to others or other body areas. 

Avoid close contact, including kissing, with others, including children, if you have a cold sore. Most children are exposed to HSV-1 at a young age. And if you are pregnant, let your healthcare provider know if you have a history of genital herpes to decrease the risk of transmission during delivery.

Treating herpes

Herpes is not curable, but antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir, can help shorten or control outbreaks. 

• Acyclovir: An oral medication that reduces symptom severity and prevents new herpes sores from developing. Healthcare providers may suggest taking it up to five times per day, and they may prescribe its liquid form if someone has trouble swallowing pills. 
• Famciclovir: Available as a tablet and can be a good treatment option for people who have HIV and have developed herpes. 
• Valacyclovir: A tablet that treats cold sores around the mouth and genital herpes outbreaks. It also helps reduce the number of future episodes. 

Sometimes creams can help relieve itching, burning, and tingling. 

Home remedies may also help ease the symptoms of a herpes outbreak: 

• Cold compresses: Applying a cold compress or ice to the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes every hour can help reduce swelling and tingling.
• Honey: Medical-grade honey, such as kanuka honey, may help sores heal faster.
• Garlic: It has antiviral properties that may help prevent viral infections by blocking viral entry or replication within cells. However, using raw garlic on the skin can cause burns. 
• Wash your hands after applying any topical product, or use a cotton swab.