Rare Disease Facts & Stats

According to GLobal Genes

Statistics: 

• There are over 7,000 distinct types of rare diseases
• Rare Diseases affect 30 million Americans, or 1 in 10 people, and 350 million people worldwide
• 95% of Rare Diseases do not have a single FDA approved drug treatment and there are no cures
• Approximately 50% of rare diseases do not have a disease specific foundation supporting or researching their rare disease 
• 80% of rare diseases have a genetic origin

Fun Facts: 

• If all of the people with Rare Diseases lived in one country, it would be the world’s 3rd most populous country
• While individual diseases are rare, the combination of all rare diseases creates a global health crisis
• Within the rare disease community, mis-diagnosis and under-diagnosis is a serious issue

Download and Share the Global Genes Interactive PDF