How many people worldwide suffer from lymphedema?

Winnie VORIHILALA
6 hours ago
4 min read

Lymphedema is a chronic disease that is still largely unknown. It results from an accumulation of lymph in the tissues, causing persistent swelling — often of the arms or legs — accompanied by sensations of heaviness, stiffness or pain.

Global estimates vary, but researchers agree that it is a genuine public health issue . According to several scientific publications (LE&RN, NIH, Medicine Journal , WHO), between 140 and 250 million people worldwide are currently living with lymphedema — that is, 1.5% to 3% of the world's population .

👉 This wide interval reflects the uncertainty linked to massive underdiagnosis and the lack of uniform epidemiological data.

🌎 Estimated global distribution

Region	Indicative estimate	Main causes	Comments
Asia	~120 million (≈ 48%)	Lymphatic filariasis (parasitic infection), cancers, surgery	India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and China account for the majority of cases.
Africa	~60 million (≈ 24%)	Lymphatic filariasis, chronic skin infections	Sub-Saharan Africa was heavily affected, especially in rural areas.
North America	~11 million (≈ 4%)	Cancers (breast, prostate, melanoma), surgery, obesity	Mostly in the United States (~10M) and Canada (~1M).
Europe	~15 million (≈ 6%)	Post-cancer, surgery, aging	Includes France (0.5–1 M), Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy.
Latin America and the Caribbean	~20 million (≈ 8%)	Parasitic infections, lack of screening	Brazil, Venezuela and Mexico are the most affected.
Oceania & Pacific	~4 million (≈ 2%)	Cancers, post-surgical sequelae, residual filariasis	Australia, Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands.
Middle East	~10 million (≈ 4%)	Surgery, obesity, genetic causes	Significant growth due to sedentary lifestyle and diabetes.

➡️ These figures are approximate and indicative , established from trends published by the WHO and the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN), and are not based on systematic national censuses .

💧 Primary and secondary lymphedema

Two main forms can be distinguished:

🧬 Primary lymphedema : linked to a congenital or hereditary malformation of the lymphatic system.
💉 Secondary lymphedema : caused by cancer, surgery, radiotherapy or infection.

Studies indicate that the majority of cases (~ 90%) are secondary, but this proportion varies by region:

In industrialized countries, it is often associated with post-cancer treatments;
In tropical regions, it remains frequently linked to lymphatic filariasis , a parasitic infection that is still endemic.

📊 Infographic: Global distribution of lymphedema

Type of lymphedema	% of cases	Estimated number of people (out of 250 million)
🧬 Primary (congenital)	10%	~25 million
💉 Secondary (acquired)	90%	~225 million

🇨🇦 Lymphedema in Canada

In Canada , approximately 1 million people are affected, according to the LIMPRINT study published in Current Oncology (2019).

Nearly a third of these cases are thought to be linked to cancer treatments (surgery, radiotherapy, etc.).

Despite awareness initiatives (AQL, Canadian Lymphedema Framework ), access to care and compression stockings remains unequal across provinces.

🇫🇷 Lymphedema in France

In France , it is estimated that between 500,000 and 1 million people are affected. Nearly 8 out of 10 patients present with secondary lymphedema, often linked to post-cancer treatments. Care relies on specialized physiotherapists , compression bandages , and prevention through therapeutic education .

However, the disease is still not recognized as a long-term illness (ALD) , which complicates the reimbursement of care.

🇺🇸 Lymphedema in the United States

In the United States , lymphedema affects approximately 10 million people , according to estimates from the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN) . This is more people than those with Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS combined —a figure that illustrates the magnitude of the public health challenge.

The majority of cases are secondary , related to treatments for breast, pelvic, or melanoma cancer . Several states have implemented local initiatives, such as the National Lymphedema Network (NLN) and the Lymphedema Treatment Acts , which aim to improve healthcare coverage, disease recognition, and training for healthcare professionals.

However, despite these efforts, underdiagnosis remains massive , and many patients struggle to obtain compression devices or specialized treatments.

🌎 A global public health issue

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 15 to 25 million people have lymphedema directly linked to lymphatic filariasis, mainly in Africa and Southeast Asia.
In industrialized countries, the main cause remains the after-effects of medical treatments (surgery, radiotherapy, cancers).

Despite this data, early diagnosis and structured care remain exceptional in many countries.

💙 Why Lympheo is committed

At Lympheo , we believe that better information and support already improve patients' quality of life . Our mission:

🩵 Equipping patients to more easily monitor their condition on a daily basis.
🌐 Connecting professionals and researchers to strengthen clinical research.
🤝 Uniting a global community of mutual aid and support.

Through data , artificial intelligence and a patient-centered approach , Lympheo aims to transform the way lymphedema is understood, monitored and treated worldwide.

💬 In summary

🩵 In 2025:

🌍 140 to 250 million people worldwide live with lymphedema according to approximate and indicative estimates.
🇺🇸 10 million in the United States
🇨🇦 1 million in Canada
🇫🇷 500,000 to 1 million in France
🔬 90% of cases are secondary , often linked to medical treatments (cancer, surgery, radiotherapy etc).