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HPV statistics 2024

An estimated 85% of people will get an HPV infection in their lifetime
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By | Updated on Mar. 10, 2024 Medically reviewed by Josephine Bawab, Pharm.D.

What is HPV? | How common is HPV? | HPV stats worldwide | HPV stats in the U.S. | HPV statistics by sex | HPV statistics by age | HPV statistics by type of cancer |  Common complications | Costs | Treatment | FAQs | Research

Introduction

It’s been a punchline on standup specials. A subject on episodes of Girls and Broad City. Part of an SNL sketch. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is no longer relegated to sex ed class—it’s a part of our public discourse. And while comedian Ali Wong might’ve exaggerated when she joked, “Everybody has HPV,” she wasn’t far off. HPV is incredibly common, infecting an estimated 90% of sexually active men and 80% of sexually active women sometime in their lives. 

Most often, HPV clears up completely on its own. However, specific strains may cause genital warts and certain types of cancer, so awareness is key. Here, you’ll find all the facts, figures, and information you need in order to form a thorough understanding of HPV prevalence, costs, complications, and treatment. 

What is HPV?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that spreads via genital and oral skin-to-skin contact. It’s not just one virus. There are over 200 different types of HPV, and they manifest in different ways. Some types are asymptomatic, while others can cause genital warts or common warts on other parts of the body. These are often called low-risk HPV. By comparison, the types of HPV that might cause cancer, particularly HPV 16 and HPV 18, are considered to be high-risk HPV.

“The disease disproportionately affects those who were assigned female at birth, specifically of the uterine cervix,” says Dr. Alexander Juusela, MD, MPH, FACOG, a maternal-fetal medicine fellow at Wayne State University. In these cases, “HPV can lead to genital warts, vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer, anorectal cancer, and even oropharyngeal cancer. […] In those who were assigned male sex at birth, HPV infection can lead to genital warts, penile cancer, anorectal cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer.” 

That might have you squirming, but very few cases of HPV reach that point. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 9 out of 10 HPV infections resolve on their own within two years without causing serious health issues. More persistent cases, however, may require medical care. Doctors can typically diagnose cases that cause warts with a simple visual examination. In women, they may also use a pap test (also known as a pap smear) to test cervical cells for the disease. 

How common is HPV?

  • An estimated 85% of people will get an HPV infection in their lifetime. (CDC, 2021)
  • There are about 13 million people infected with HPV each year in the U.S., including teens. (CDC, 2021)
  • Globally, nearly 1 out of 3 men have at least one genital HPV strain, and nearly 1 out of 5 men have one or more of the high-risk HPV strains. (The Lancet, 2023)

HPV statistics worldwide

  • Cervical HPV rates are highest among women in Sub-Saharan Africa (24%), Latin America and the Caribbean (16%), Eastern Europe (14%), and Southeast Asia (14%). (WHO, 2023)
  • Over 311,000 cervical cancer deaths are caused by HPV infections globally each year. (WHO, 2023)
  • HPV causes about 5% of all cancers worldwide. (National Cancer Institute, 2023)

HPV statistics in the U.S.

  • HPV infections that cause other diseases affect more than 42 million Americans. (CDC, 2023)
  • HPV infects around 13 million Americans, including adolescents, each year. (CDC, 2023)
  • HPV causes an estimated 37,000 cases of cancer in the U.S. each year. (CDC, 2023)

HPV statistics by sex

  • Approximately 91.3% of men and 84.6% of women with at least one opposite-sex partner will acquire HPV in their lifetimes. (Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 2014)
  • Between 2013 and 2016, around 41.8% of men and 38.4% of women ages 15 to 59 years had any strain of HPV. This correlates to an estimate of 40.5 million men and 37 million women in 2018. Those numbers dropped to around 24.2% in men and 19.9% in women for disease-associated HPV, correlating to an estimate of 23.4 million men and 19.2 million women in 2018. (Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 2021)
  • Globally, HPV-related cancer affects 625,600 women each year but only 69,400 men. (WHO, 2023)
  • The most common HPV-associated cancer is cervical cancer in women and oropharyngeal cancer in men. (CDC, 2023)

HPV statistics by age

  • There have not been any significant studies regarding age and HPV in the past few years. The most recent significant data is from 2014.
  • The prevalence of HPV among sexually active men in the U.S. between 2013 and 2014, by age group, is:
    • Ages 14–19 years: 22.5%
    • Ages 20–24 years: 41.8%
    • Ages 25–29 years: 51.9%
    • Ages 30–39 years: 45.3%
    • Ages 40–49 years: 47.0%
    • Ages 50–59 years: 50.2%
  • The prevalence of HPV among sexually active women in the U.S. between 2013 and 2014, by age group, is:
    • Ages 14–19 years: 45.5%
    • Ages 20–24 years: 62.8%
    • Ages 25–29 years: 44.8%
    • Ages 30–39 years: 38.9%
    • Ages 40–49 years: 35.1%
    • Ages 50–59 years: 32.0%

(The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2017)

HPV statistics by type of cancer

  • Each year in the U.S., it is estimated that HPV is linked to:
    • 91% of cervical cancers
    • 91% of anal cancers
    • 69% of vulvar cancers
    • 75% of vaginal cancers
    • 63% of penile cancers
    • 70% of oropharyngeal cancers

(CDC, 2023)

Common HPV complications

The cost of HPV

  • Between 2014 and 2018, the estimated direct medical costs for the prevention and treatment of HPV-associated diseases were around $9 billion annually. (Vaccine, 2023)
  • Of the HPV-associated estimated costs between 2014 and 2018, approximately 55% went toward routine cervical cancer screening and follow-up, 44% went toward treatment of HPV-attributable cancer, and less than 2% went toward treating anogenital warts and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. (Vaccine, 2023)
  • In 2018, new HPV infections cost an estimated $755 million in direct lifetime medical costs for adults ages 15–59 years. (CDC, 2021)
  • The lifetime costs for HPV-related cervical cancer are estimated to be approximately $24,208 per patient for carcinoma in situ (cancer that has not spread yet), $19,562 per patient for local metastasis, and $17,599 per patient for distant metastasis cervical cancer. (Journal of Translational Internal Medicine, 2021)

Causes of HPV

HPV is a sexually transmitted infection, so the most common causes are pretty clear: vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It doesn’t, however, spread through an exchange of bodily fluids like some other STIs. Instead, it’s transmitted via skin-to-skin contact. 

Most often, that means that it affects the vulva, vagina, cervix, rectum, anus, penis, and scrotum, but it can also spread to the mouth and throat. Although a vast majority of cases come from sexual contact, studies suggest that people can also contract it through close contact with infected skin, and mothers can pass it to their children during birth. 

HPV prevention

HPV is widespread, so it might seem tough to avoid for anyone who’s already sexually active, but there are ways to decrease the chances of contracting it. “The single best method for preventing HPV is by becoming vaccinated at a young age and prior to initiation of sexual activity,” says Dr. Juusela. “The HPV vaccines prevent exposure to new HPV strains, but do not treat previous infections, precancer, or cancer due to HPV infection.”

Gardasil 9 is an HPV vaccine that has proven to be almost 100% effective in preventing infections from all seven cancer-causing HPV strains if administered pre-exposure. The CDC recommends receiving two immunization doses between the ages of 11 and 12 years, but it’s approved for children as young as nine years of age. Teenagers and adults ages 15 to 26 years can get three doses, and adults ages 27 to 45 years can also get vaccinated but should speak with their doctor first. 

Practicing safe sex helps, too. Dr. Monte Swarup, MD, FACOG, an OB/GYN and founder of HPV HUB, second the vaccination recommendation and also suggests monogamous sexual relations, limiting the number of different sexual partners, and using condoms or dental dams, which help prevent transmission. “While the use of condoms and dental dams may decrease HPV transmission, the virus can still be transmitted by skin not covered by condoms and dental dams,” says Dr. Juusela. 

Throwing out the cigarettes may also be a good move. Dr. Swarup says, “Smoking cessation is known to play a critical role in the prevention of HPV.” Dr. Juusela agrees, saying, “Just another reason to quit or never begin smoking!”

Treating HPV

Most cases of HPV clear up on their own without health problems. In fact, many people won’t even realize that they’ve had it. While there’s no cure for the virus itself, there are ways to treat the genital warts and abnormal cells that it might cause.

“In young, healthy persons assigned female at birth, current recommendations are to begin pap smear testing at age 21, and testing via both pap smear and HPV testing starting age 30,” says Dr. Juusela. “The need for treatment arises when cervical HPV is persistent and/or causes identifiable precancerous or cancerous changes. While uncomfortable, fortunately, pap smears can detect these changes.”

For people with HPV who develop abnormal, precancerous cells, doctors may choose to remove them with cryotherapy, conization, laser treatment, or a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). No matter the method, Dr. Juusela says that the most important thing is to remove precancerous lesions before they turn into cancer. 

Genital warts might disappear without treatment, but it could take up to two years, and many people don’t want to wait that long. Plus, treating the warts can relieve irritation and reduce the risk of spreading the virus to sexual partners. Dermatologists may prescribe topical medications like Imiquimod or Podofilox to control them, or they might choose to freeze the warts with liquid nitrogen, remove them with a scalpel, or remove them with lasers or electric currents. 

HPV questions and answers

What is the cancer rate of HPV?

Each year, the CDC estimates 13 million new cases of HPV, but only roughly 46,711 new cases of vaginal, vulval, penile, anal, rectal, and oropharyngeal cancer. Not all of these cancer cases stem from HPV, but a majority of them do. 

Who is most at risk for HPV?

People who engage in sexual activity at an early age and have numerous sexual partners are more likely to get HPV. People with weakened immune systems, people who use tobacco, and people with HIV infections have a higher risk as well.

How long does it take HPV to turn into cancer?

The National Cancer Institute says it can take 5–10 years for HPV to develop into precancerous cells and up to 20 years to turn into cancer.

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