Most adults first experience low back pain between the ages of 30 and 50, but back pain can occur at any age and becomes more likely as you get older.
Adults aged 50 to 59 are most likely to report experiencing chronic low back pain or sciatica pain.
By age 20, up to 50% of adolescents will experience back pain at least once.
In a 2019 study, around 40% of women report experiencing back pain at least once in the last three months while just over 37% of men reported back pain.
Approximately 1 in 10 men and 1 in 5 women experience upper back pain.
An estimated 40.5% of pregnant individuals will experience back pain during their pregnancy.
Up to 28.3% of pregnant individuals experience back pain during their first trimester, 36.8% during their second trimester, and 47.8% during their third trimester.
Back pain is more common in individuals with a lower socioeconomic status, with 44.8% of adults with income under the federal poverty line (FDL) reporting back pain compared to 37.6% of adults with income over the FDL.
The highest rates of low back pain are reported in nursing, construction, warehousing, landscaping, and transportation.
In 2022, around 34% of American adults with chronic low back pain reported that their pain was severe to very severe while 48% reported their pain was moderate.
Overall, middle back pain is less common than upper or lower back pain.
On average, middle back pain is less debilitating than upper or low back pain, but it is often comorbid with other spinal pain.
Over a period of two years, up to 50% of children and adolescents reported having middle back pain.
An estimated 15-19% of individuals experience chronic upper back pain.
Thoracic or upper back pain is common among children, adolescents, and adults with prevalence up to 35% for both groups.
Female adolescents are more likely to experience upper back pain than male adolescents.
During pregnancy, individuals may experience two types of low back pain, including pelvic girdle pain and lumbar pain. Pelvic girdle pain is four times as common during pregnancy and postpartum than lumbar pain.
In 2016, low back pain contributed 57.6 million total years lived with disability.
In 2020, low back pain resulted in 69 million years lived with disability.
Adults with back pain visit the doctor nearly twice as often than adults without back pain.
Around 69% of patients who recover from a low back pain episode experience a recurrence of back pain within a year, largely due to poor posture and prolonged periods of sitting.
In 1998, the U.S. spent $90.7 billion on health care related to back pain.
As of 2023, back pain treatment accounted for an estimated $200 billion in healthcare costs each year.
Those with back pain spend about 60% more on healthcare than individuals without back pain.
Around 72% of adults with back pain experience depressive symptoms compared to 61% of adults without back pain.
Adults with chronic back pain are more likely to report feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and other psychological distress compared to adults who experience an episode of acute back pain.
Back pain causes adults to spend a collective 200 million days in bed each year.
Adults with back pain are twice as likely to report having poor to fair physical health compared to adults without back pain.
Between 2012 and 2016, back pain contributed to an average of 100 days out of work per person in Brazil.
In the U.S., back pain causes an annual loss of nearly 83 million work days.
In 2016, back injuries were the leading cause of work-related strains, sprains, tears, and hernias, making up 38.5% of work-related musculoskeletal disorders that resulted in time away from work.
Work absences caused by back pain cost the U.S. economy upwards of $1 billion every year due to decreased productivity and lost wages.
For adults 51 and older, back pain significantly affects how satisfied they are with their retirement, with 50% of adults with back pain reporting high satisfaction compared to 65% of adults without.
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Read moreStanding for long periods can cause back pain, impacting your daily activities. In this guide, Melissa Erlandson, PT, MSPT, provides practical tips to relieve and prevent back pain. Learn how to stand comfortably longer and improve your quality of life with targeted physical therapy and preventive measures.
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