In 2023, 24.3% of U.S. adults reported having chronic pain, and in the past three months, 8.5% experienced high-impact chronic pain, according to the CDC.
High-impact chronic pain refers to pain that frequently limits life or work activities. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of chronic pain has risen: In 2019, 20.4% of adults had chronic pain and 7.4% had high-impact chronic pain.
Chronic pain is linked to reduced quality of life, opioid misuse, unmet mental health needs, and higher rates of anxiety and depression, the CDC said in a November report.
Certain groups are more likely to experience chronic pain, including women, older adults and people living in nonmetropolitan areas. Among racial and ethnic groups, American Indian and Alaska Native adults aged 65 and older were most likely to have chronic and high-impact chronic pain, while Asian adults were least likely to experience either condition.