Diabetes
24.6 million adults in Africa live with diabetes — projected to reach 59.5 million by 2050, a 142% increase. 73% are undiagnosed, the highest proportion of any region globally.
↑ Rising fastest of any IDF region
Burden
The IDF Diabetes Atlas (2025) estimates 24.6 million adults in Africa are living with diabetes — projected to reach 59.5 million by 2050, a 142% increase and the highest projected growth of any IDF region. Diabetes was responsible for 216,000 deaths in Africa in 2024.
The Undiagnosed Crisis
Africa has the world’s highest proportion of undiagnosed diabetes — 73% of adults with the condition do not know they have it, compared with 45% globally. This means roughly 18 million Africans are walking around with untreated diabetes.
Country Concentration
- Egypt: 13.2 million — a quarter of the continental total
- Algeria: 4.8 million
- Sudan: 3.9 million
- 1 in 7 live births in Africa is affected by hyperglycaemia in pregnancy
Drivers
- Rapid urbanisation (forecast to add 950 million urban Africans by 2050)
- Nutrition transition to ultra-processed foods
- Rising obesity prevalence
- Insulin access barriers and cost
- 45% of African countries lack high-quality diabetes data
Response and Gaps
Only 1% of global diabetes expenditure happens in Africa, despite the region accounting for over 11% of the global diabetes population.
“Africa has the lowest current diabetes prevalence of any IDF region (5.0%) but the highest projected growth — a 142% increase to 60 million people by 2050.”IDF Diabetes Atlas 11, 2025
“Africa accounts for over 11% of the global diabetes population but only 1% of global diabetes expenditure.”Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2025