India bears the world’s second-largest economic burden from diabetes, estimated at USD 11.4 trillion, according to a new global study. The United States tops the list with costs of USD 16.5 trillion, followed by China at USD 11 trillion.
The analysis, conducted by researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and the Vienna University of Economics and Business, assessed the economic impact of diabetes across 204 countries between 2020 and 2050. Findings published in Nature Medicine estimate global diabetes-related costs at around USD 10 trillion, excluding informal care—equivalent to about 0.2 per cent of global annual GDP.
When informal care provided by family members is included, the global economic burden rises sharply to USD 152 trillion, or 1.7 per cent of the world’s yearly GDP. Informal caregiving accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the total burden, a reflection of the fact that diabetes prevalence far exceeds mortality rates by 30–50 times, the researchers noted.
In India and China, the high economic cost is largely driven by the sheer size of the affected population, while in the US it stems mainly from high treatment expenses and diversion of physical capital. The study also highlighted stark differences between high- and low-income countries: treatment costs account for 41 per cent of the burden in high-income nations, compared with just 14 per cent in low-income countries, where lost labour dominates.
The researchers pointed out that the economic impact of diabetes surpasses that of major diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer. They stressed that promoting healthier lifestyles—through regular physical activity and balanced diets—remains the most effective way to prevent diabetes and curb its economic toll. Early detection via population-wide screening, along with timely diagnosis and treatment, is also critical.
India’s vulnerability is underscored by previous findings, with over a quarter of the world’s diabetic population estimated to live in the country, according to a Lancet study published in November 2024.
