Headaches rank among the world's most common health issues. A comprehensive meta-study shows that about one in six people in developed countries experiences them daily, while half the global population endures at least one migraine annually.
Earlier this year, a neurologist highlighted that migraines impact 10 million French people. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 1.7% to 4% of adults worldwide suffer headaches for at least 15 days a month. Published on April 12, 2022, in the Journal of Headache and Pain, a meta-analysis by Norwegian researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology synthesizes decades of data on headache prevalence and epidemiology.
The team reviewed 357 publications from 1961 to 2020, applying bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression to categorize headaches into four types: general headaches, migraines, chronic headaches (15+ days/month), and tension-type headaches.
Tension headaches—the most common type—cause moderate, diffuse pain across the skull, often worsening with stress or anxiety and impairing concentration. Migraines, by contrast, strike episodically with intense, unilateral pain that intensifies with physical activity.
In developed countries, overall headache prevalence reaches 52%. Tension headaches account for 26%, migraines 14%, and chronic cases (15+ days/month) 4.6%—meaning 16% experience daily headaches. Data spanning six decades suggest rising trends, though more evidence is needed.
Headaches disproportionately affect women (57.8% of cases), peaking after puberty through age 60. Children, teens, and seniors are less impacted.
To tailor public health strategies, experts call for deeper research, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
