Prevalence rate of diabetes in adults in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Prevalence rate of diabetes in adults was 5.8 in 2014. ▲ Rising
Prevalence rate of diabetes in adults in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1980–2014
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence rate of diabetes in adults in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 5.8, measured in 2014. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of diabetes in adults in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 5.8 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 4.4, in 1980.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 169th out of 190 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Prevalence rate of diabetes in adults in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4.4 | — |
| 1981 | 4.4 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 4.4 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 4.5 | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 4.5 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 4.6 | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 4.6 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 4.7 | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 4.7 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 4.8 | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 4.8 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 4.9 | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 5 | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 5.1 | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 5.1 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 5.2 | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 5.2 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 5.3 | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 5.3 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 5.4 | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 5.4 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 5.5 | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 5.5 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 5.5 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 5.6 | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 5.6 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 5.6 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 5.6 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 5.7 | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 5.7 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 5.7 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 5.7 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 5.7 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 5.8 | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.56 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.09 | 4.8 | 5.3 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.54 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.72 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -0.9864 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.0827 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -0.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.087 units per person (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of diabetes in adults in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Prevalence rate of diabetes in adults in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 5.8 in 2014, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest prevalence rate of diabetes in adults recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.8 in 2014.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of diabetes in adults recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.4 in 1980.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for prevalence rate of diabetes in adults?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 169th out of 190 countries with data for 2014.
- Is prevalence rate of diabetes in adults rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Prevalence rate of diabetes in adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated share of people with diabetes among those aged over 18, based on general population surveys and statistical modeling. Diabetes is a risk factor for chronic complications, including cardiovascular disease, and premature death.