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Multiple sclerosis statistics 2024

One million Americans live with multiple sclerosis (MS). Get updated MS stats here.
Lindsay Modglin, contributor to SingleCare
By | Updated on Jan. 12, 2023 Medically reviewed by Josephine Bawab, Pharm.D.

What is multiple sclerosis? | How common is multiple sclerosis? | Global multiple sclerosis stats | U.S. multiple sclerosis stats | Multiple sclerosis stats by condition | Multiple sclerosis stats by sex | Multiple sclerosis stats by race | Common complications | Costs | Causes | Prevention | Treatment | FAQs | Research

March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease that affects the central nervous system. It’s progressive, which means it gets worse over time. MS can cause problems with vision, balance, and muscle coordination. It can also lead to numbness and tingling in the limbs, as well as fatigue.

Nearly 1 million people in the United States are affected by MS. It’s estimated that more than 2.8 million people are living with MS worldwide according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The majority of people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50 years, but it can occur at any age. MS has a higher incidence rate in women than men.

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and often disabling disease of the central nervous system. It’s usually recognized by its symptoms which include extreme fatigue, loss of balance and coordination, visual problems, slurred speech, and tremors. Because symptoms affect the entire body, a diagnosis of MS may be difficult.

“When someone has Multiple Sclerosis (MS), their immune system attacks their brain and spinal cord,” says Jacob Hascalovici, MD, the chief medical officer of Clearing, a digital health platform for people with chronic pain. “During these attacks, nerve coatings get damaged, and the nerves cannot relay messages as well, so the body and brain have trouble communicating.”

There are several types of MS, including:

  • Clinically isolated syndrome: The first episode of neurologic symptoms before a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis
  • Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): The most common form of the disease; symptoms are experienced in flare-ups (or relapses) with full recovery (remission) between attacks
  • Secondary progressive MS (SPMS): A later stage of the disease where there is a steady worsening of symptoms between patches of good health
  • Primary progressive MS (PPMS): Starts as a steady decline without remission or relapse
  • Tumefactive MS: An atypical form of the disease that causes “tumor-like” lesions
  • Pediatric MS: A rare form of the disease that affects children and adolescents

Diagnostic criteria for MS vary by provider. Presentation of symptoms, several lesions on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and evidence of damage to the central nervous system are all considered when making a diagnosis.

The disease course, or how the disease will progress, is different for each person. There is currently no cure for MS; however, several therapies and medications can help manage symptoms and prevent impairment.

How common is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis statistics worldwide

Multiple sclerosis statistics in the U.S.

Multiple sclerosis statistics by condition

Multiple sclerosis statistics by sex

  • Females have a three times greater risk of developing MS than males.
  • According to 2017 data, 74% of people with MS are female and 26% of people living with MS are male.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2019

Multiple sclerosis statistics by race and ethnicity

  • At the time of diagnosis, African-Americans are more likely to have MS symptoms related to the optic nerves and spinal cord.
  • The prevalence of MS is highest among the female African-American population.

Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, 2020

Multiple sclerosis and overall health

“The severity of MS can vary from person to person,” Dr. Hascalovici says. “Some people are very deeply impacted by the trajectory of MS, while others are more mildly impacted. Often, the most difficult and trying aspects of MS can be its ‘invisible’ impacts, meaning fatigue and mood swings, among other symptoms.”

  • People with MS are at an increased risk of developing mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. (Frontiers in Neurology, 2020)
  • The most common reason for hospitalizations in adults with MS in a retrospective study was infectious diseases, followed by a relapse of their condition. (Neurologia, 2019)
  • People with MS have an increased risk of developing chronic health conditions, such as lung disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2015)

The cost of multiple sclerosis

Causes of multiple sclerosis

Currently, there is no known cause of MS. However, evidence suggests that MS is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks and damages myelin tissue, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Researchers have developed several theories related to factors that may contribute to MS, including immune, environmental, genetic, and infection-related factors.

  • Immune factors: Some immune system abnormalities have been found in people with MS. These immune system alterations appear to be responsible for the attack on myelin fibers.
  • Environmental factors: Smoking, a lack of Vitamin D, obesity, and living in areas farther from the equator have been associated with a higher incidence of MS based on prevalence estimates.
  • Genetic factors: Studies suggest that people who have a family history of MS are at a greater risk of developing the condition.
  • Infection-related factors: Some researchers believe that a virus or bacterium may trigger MS in some, including Epstein-Barr, measles, and herpes simplex viruses.

Preventing multiple sclerosis

Unfortunately, there are no known ways to prevent multiple sclerosis at this time. Public health organizations, institutions, and governments are working to better understand the condition in order to determine whether it’s possible to prevent the onset of MS in people at high risk. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, there are several risk factors that may show an increased susceptibility of developing MS, including:

  • Those between the ages of 20 and 50 years
  • Females
  • Low vitamin D levels
  • Tobacco use
  • Obesity

Aside from the National MS Society, there are several other organizations devoted to continued research of MS. Organizations such as the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Myelin Repair Foundation, Accelerated Cure Project, and Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) are all devoted to better understanding the condition and thus, developing better treatment options.

Treating multiple sclerosis

Treating MS involves comprehensive care by a neurologist, primary care physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist, social worker, and nurses. Treatment options are available to help reduce the frequency of episodes or severity of symptoms. It can allow individuals to continue living their lives while minimizing the impact of MS on their daily activities. Typically, you may be treated with a combination of medications and various other therapies.

Some of the most common medications for MS include:

Multiple sclerosis questions and answers

What percentage of the world’s population has multiple sclerosis?

There are approximately 7.673 billion people in the world. Of those, around 2.8 million have been diagnosed with MS. Based on that data, less than 1% of the population has MS.

Where is MS most common in the world?

MS is more common in northern European and American areas, but it can appear in any geographic location, according to the Atlas of MS. Some evidence suggests that MS is more common in areas further away from the equator.

What percent of the U.S. population has multiple sclerosis?

Exact data related to the number of people in the U.S. with MS is difficult to obtain. It’s estimated that around 1 million of the 329.5 million people living in the U.S. have MS.

Which U.S. state has the highest rate of MS?

A study published by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) and Blue Health Intelligence (BHI) found that Wyoming, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Alabama had the highest rates of MS, according to 2017 data.

Which U.S. city has the highest rate of MS?

According to a 2017 study published by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) and Blue Health Intelligence (BHI), Syracuse, New York has the highest rate of MS.

Is MS considered a rare disease?

MS is considered a rare disease in many geographic areas. However, some experts disagree on whether it should be considered a rare disease because of an unclear definition of rarity. Countries such as Europe and the United States have a much higher incidence of multiple sclerosis than some other countries.

How long can you live with MS?

Although MS is a chronic condition, most individuals lead active and productive lives with the right therapy and medications.  According to the Multiple Sclerosis News Today, having MS can shorten one’s life expectancy by about seven years, on average.

Is MS becoming more common?

Global data from 2013 to 2020 suggests the reported prevalence of multiple sclerosis has increased from approximately 2.3 million to 2.8 million, according to the Atlas of MS.

Multiple sclerosis research