Global Study Finds Women Report Higher Pain Than Men Across All Body Sites

Women self-reported higher pain prevalence than men across 11 bodily sites in a global study of more than 6 million people from 118 countries. The research analyzed data collected from 1990 to 2025 from participants aged five to over 100 years old.

Across all 11 body areas studied, women reported higher pain prevalence than men. The biggest gender gaps were seen in facial pain, headaches, and stomach or abdominal pain. About 40% of all participants reported back pain.

Pain rises steeply before age 55 and peaks later in life

For both men and women, the steepest increase in pain occurred before age 55. High-intensity pain peaked at about age 50, while generalised pain peaked around age 70. Pain prevalence remained elevated into older age, peaking at or beyond 75.

Headaches and abdominal pain tended to peak earlier in life. Back, hip and knee pain continued climbing well into older age. Professor Andrew Horne noted, "Pain also rises most steeply before age 55, during women’s working, caring and reproductive years."

Regional disparities show higher pain burden in lower Human Development Index areas

People in the lowest Human Development Index regions had substantially higher late-life prevalence of bodily pain. From age 40 onwards, pain anywhere in the body increased more rapidly in these countries.

By age 80 and beyond, overall pain prevalence was around 31 percentage points higher in lower-development countries compared to higher-development ones. Low back pain specifically was nearly twice as common in lower-development countries for older adults.

Smoking, obesity and low income explain part of the global pain burden

The study found 18.3% of the global pain burden was attributable to smoking, obesity, and low household incomes. The contribution of these risk factors varied significantly by region.

Well-established risk factors like these explained only part of the pain burden gap in lower-development settings.

Study limitations and researcher insights point to need for earlier, tailored prevention

The research had several limitations. These included uneven coverage across the oldest and youngest age groups, different ways of measuring pain, and describing patterns for age groups rather than following the same people over time. Most data was collected at a single point in time.

The findings highlight a persistent gender pain gap with implications for equitable healthcare. Professor Rebeccah Slater said, "The troubling paradox is that women experience more pain, yet their pain is also more likely to be dismissed, diagnosed late or undertreated."

The researchers suggest pain prevention may need to start considerably earlier in life than current approaches assume. They argue prevention should be tailored to different regions and populations rather than using a one-size-fits-all strategy.