A new international study estimates that India faces the second-highest economic burden due to diabetes at USD 11.4 trillion, surpassed only by the United States at USD 16.5 trillion. China ranks third with an estimated burden of USD 11 trillion.
Study Assesses Global Diabetes Costs Through 2050
Researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria, assessed the economic impact of diabetes across 204 countries between 2020 and 2050. Their findings, published in Nature Medicine, reveal the extensive financial strain caused by the disease worldwide.
Global Costs Surge When Informal Care Is Included
Globally, diabetes-related costs amount to nearly USD 10 trillion when excluding informal care provided by family members—equivalent to around 0.2 per cent of the world’s annual gross domestic product (GDP). However, when informal caregiving is included, the total burden rises sharply to USD 152 trillion, or 1.7 per cent of global GDP.
Informal Care Drives the Majority of Economic Loss
According to the researchers, informal caregiving accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the total economic burden. This disproportionate impact arises because diabetes prevalence far exceeds mortality rates by a factor of 30 to 50. Moreover, caregivers often withdraw partially or entirely from the workforce, thereby increasing indirect economic losses.
Country-Wise Breakdown of Diabetes Burden
As reported by The Hindu, the study estimates the economic burden of diabetes mellitus at INT$ 2.5 trillion in the United States, followed by INT$ 1.6 trillion in India and INT$ 1.0 trillion in China. When losses from informal care are included, the burden escalates to INT$ 16.5 trillion in the US, INT$ 11.4 trillion in India, and INT$ 11.0 trillion in China. An international dollar (INT$) is a statistical unit that has the same purchasing power as a US dollar.
Population Size Drives Costs in India and China
For India and China, the researchers attributed the high economic burden primarily to the large number of people living with diabetes. In contrast, the United States faces higher costs due to expensive treatment regimens and diversion of physical capital.
Sharp Divide Between High- and Low-Income Countries
The study also highlights a key disparity between high- and low-income countries. Treatment costs account for 41 per cent of the economic burden in high-income countries, compared to just 14 per cent in low-income nations. This difference underscores the limited access to comprehensive treatment for chronic diseases such as diabetes in lower-income settings.
Diabetes Outpaces Other Major Diseases in Economic Impact
Furthermore, the researchers noted that the economic impact of diabetes exceeds that of major conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, emphasising the scale of the challenge.
Prevention and Early Detection Remain Critical
Finally, the study stresses that promoting healthier lifestyles—including regular physical activity and balanced diets—remains the most effective strategy to prevent diabetes and reduce its economic toll. In addition, comprehensive population-wide screening, early diagnosis, and timely treatment are essential to mitigate both health-related and economic consequences.
India Home to Over a Quarter of the World’s Diabetics
Notably, a separate study published in The Lancet in November 2024 estimated that more than one-quarter of the world’s diabetic population lives in India, further underscoring the urgency of addressing the disease at a national and global level.