IDF Diabetes Atlas 2025

Why is it in News?

• 2025: 11th edition of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas released.
• Key findings published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (2025).
• Projects a sharp global rise in diabetes prevalence by 2050, with middle-income countries bearing the heaviest burden.

Relevance

GS II – Social Justice & Health

• Public health challenges
• Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
• Universal Health Coverage

GS III – Human Capital & Development

• Productivity loss due to lifestyle diseases
• Demographic transition and health burden

What is the IDF Diabetes Atlas?

• Flagship epidemiological assessment by the International Diabetes Federation.
• Estimates:
  • Prevalence
  • Trends
  • Projections of diabetes (ages 20–79).
• Used by:
  • WHO
  • National health policymakers
  • Global health financing agencies.

Key Global Findings (Data-driven)

1. Scale of the Epidemic

• 2024:
  • People living with diabetes: ~580 million adults
  • Prevalence: 11.11% of global adult population
• 2050 (Projected):
  • Affected population: ~850–900 million adults
  • Prevalence: 12.96%

 Diabetes growth is structural, not cyclical.

2. Income-Level Distribution

• Middle-income countries:
  • Highest prevalence and fastest growth.
• Reflects:
  • Rapid urbanisation
  • Lifestyle transition
  • Nutrition shift without commensurate healthcare access.

3. Urban–Rural Divide

• 2024:
  • Urban: ~400 million
  • Rural: ~189 million
• 2050 (Projected):
  • Urban: ~655 million
  • Rural: ~198 million
• Indicates:
  • Diabetes increasingly an urbanisation-linked disease.
  • Rural burden stagnates but does not decline.

Country-wise Diabetes Load (Top 10 Focus)

2024 Rankings

1. China: ~148 million
2. India: ~90 million
3. United States
4. Pakistan

2050 Projections

• China and India retain top two positions.
• Pakistan projected to rise to 3rd, overtaking the US. South and East Asia emerge as the global diabetes epicentre.

Why Is Diabetes Rising?

1. Lifestyle Transition

• Sedentary work
• Reduced physical activity
• Ultra-processed food consumption

2. Urbanisation without Health Planning

• Poor walkability
• Stressful urban living
• Inadequate preventive health systems

3. Demographic & Metabolic Factors

• Population ageing
• Early-life malnutrition → adult metabolic disorders
• Genetic susceptibility (notably South Asians)

India-Specific Implications

Epidemiological Transition

• Shift from communicable to non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
• Diabetes now:
  • A leading cause of cardiovascular disease
  • Major driver of kidney failure and blindness.

Health System Stress

• Long-term care costs
• Productivity losses
• Increased out-of-pocket expenditure

Policy & Governance Significance

Global Health

• Diabetes threatens:
  • SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being)
  • Universal Health Coverage goals
• Requires preventive-first approach.

India’s Policy Landscape

• National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS).
• Ayushman Bharat:
  • HWCs for early screening
  • PM-JAY for tertiary care
• Gap remains in:
  • Urban public health
  • Lifestyle modification at scale.

Expert Warning

• Diabetes epidemic has continued unchecked since 2000.
• Stronger action needed to:
  • Slow progression
  • Delay onset
  • Reduce complications

Way Forward

1. Population-Level Prevention

• Fiscal tools:
  • Sugar-sweetened beverage taxation
• Urban planning:
  • Active mobility infrastructure
• Food labelling and marketing regulations

2. Early Detection & Management

• Universal screening after 30 years.
• Integration with primary healthcare.
• Digital health monitoring.

3. Focus on High-Burden Countries

• Targeted financing for middle-income countries.
• South Asia–centric strategies.

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