Researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of pain patterns worldwide, examining data from more than 6 million individuals spanning 118 countries between 1990 and 2025. The study, published in Nature Medicine, represents one of the largest coordination efforts in pain epidemiology to date and included participants ranging from age five to over 100.
The research revealed that women consistently reported higher levels of self-reported pain compared to men across 11 distinct bodily regions measured, including the head, face, neck, shoulder, foot, ankle, hand, wrist, elbow, chest, back, stomach, abdomen, hip, and knee. Headache, facial pain, and abdominal pain showed particularly pronounced gender differences. Back pain was reported by approximately 40% of participants, while facial pain was the least common at 2%.
Pain patterns across the lifespan showed a steep increase before age 55, followed by a peak at or beyond age 75. Back, hip, and knee pain continued rising throughout life, suggesting substantial pain burden develops during working-age adulthood. High-intensity pain peaked around age 50, while generalized pain peaked near age 70. Different pain types followed distinct trajectories, with headache, abdominal, and facial pain peaking earlier before declining, whereas musculoskeletal pain generally increased progressively with age.
Regional variations emerged in pain prevalence and contributing factors. Individuals in the lowest Human Development Index regions experienced substantially higher rates of bodily pain in later life, with nearly double the rates of low back pain compared to other regions. Globally, 18.3% of pain burden was attributable to smoking, obesity, and low household incomes, though this figure varied significantly by region, ranging from 12.6% in sub-Saharan Africa to 27.1% in eastern Europe.
Researchers acknowledged limitations including varying pain measurement methods across studies, uneven geographic coverage, and the analysis of age group patterns rather than individual trajectories over time. Nonetheless, independent experts noted the findings provide strong evidence that gender disparities in pain experience are real, consistent, and global, while highlighting the ongoing concern that women’s pain remains frequently dismissed, under-researched, and inadequately treated in clinical settings.
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