25+ Startling Hair Loss Statistics for 2024
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If you believe everyone has a full set of hair except you, you’re wrong. Hair loss statistics show that millions of women and men worldwide experience hair loss. It’s a condition that can have psychological consequences on people suffering from more severe forms of hair loss.
It is evident in balding statistics that hair loss disorder is so widespread, researchers and scientists have been examining this condition with the hope of finding long-term solutions. While there is still no universal drug or treatment that can cure hair loss, there are other ways of treating it.
To know more about the latest available statistics on this condition, keep on reading!
Mind-Boggling Hair Loss Facts You Need to Know (Editor’s Pick)
- In the US, approximately 21 million women and 35 million men experience hair loss.
- The Czech Republic has the highest percentage of bald men worldwide.
- The hair restoration market was valued at $9.2 billion in 2020.
- Hereditary hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss.
- 66% of men aged 60 and above experience hair loss.
- Over 50% of women above 65 years old experience thinning hair.
Hair Loss Statistics in Men
1. 20% of men in their 20s start to lose their hair.
(Bosley)
Male pattern baldness starts showing during the mid to late 20s in men. However, only 20% of men in their 20s have some visible hair loss. At this age, hair loss can significantly impact people’s social life and confidence, especially in men with short hair, as it becomes more evident.
2. 25% of men in their 30s begin to lose their hair noticeably.
(Bosley)
Male pattern baldness statistics show that the older men get, the higher their odds of losing their hair. When men enter their 30s, they have a 25% chance of displaying some form of balding. During this period, hair loss progresses rapidly, only to slow down at a certain point as the percentage of androgens in the blood reduces.
3. In men over the age of 50, the chance of being bald reaches 50%.
(Bosley)
Everyone comes up with a different number when asked about the average age of balding men. However, we know that 50% of men in their 50s noticeably lose some hair. During these years in a man’s life, typical balding patterns start to show. It begins with a receding hairline at the temples and slowly advances towards the center of the scalp. Hair loss in women looks differently, as the hairline doesn’t recede around the temples.
4. 66% of men aged 60 and over suffer from hair loss.
(Bosley)
The male pattern baldness percentage increases in men over 60 years of age. They are more likely to show bald patches as hair regeneration and growth continue to slow down.
5. Male pattern baldness is the cause of 95% of hair loss in men.
(American Hair Loss Association)
According to the American Hair Loss Association, a huge percentage of men lose their hair due to androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness. This condition is hereditary, and there’s no cure. However, scientific research has gone a long way in developing treatments to slow down hair loss.
6. According to statistics on money spent to reverse hair loss, men are more likely to pursue restoration treatment.
(ABC News)
Men spend up to $4 billion yearly to treat hair loss. Over 20% of men who suffer from some form of alopecia seek treatment to either slow down the balding process or regenerate hair growth. On the other hand, only 12% of women experiencing hair loss seek to do the same.
Hair Loss Statistics in Women
7. During menopause, 4 out of 10 women experience thinning hair.
(True & Dorin)
Thanks to Mother Nature, menopause affects all women, and it usually begins at the age of 49. Once menopause starts, estrogen levels in women rapidly drop, making hair thinner, especially in the frontal scalp area. On the other hand, some women might notice more facial hair, which is another effect of menopause.
8. 29% of women who suffer from hair loss have experienced two or more symptoms of depression.
(National Library of Medicine)
It turns out that statistics on hair loss among women are closely correlated with depression. According to a 2012 study done by the National Institutes of Health, of 157 women interviewed, 29% reported having at least two depression symptoms. Since hair loss affects appearance, it takes a toll on women’s psychological well-being and self-confidence.
9. Compared to 20% of men, only 12% of women who experience hair loss seek restoration treatment.
(True & Dorin)
Even though women seem to care more about their hair, hair industry statistics show that men seek treatment more than women. We believe it has to do with the fact that men and women lose hair differently.
Hair loss in women doesn’t follow the same pattern as that in men. The most frequent form of female hair loss is called ”the Ludwig Classification,” where the hair thins out right behind the hairline, making it less noticeable.
On the other hand, hair loss in men is more evident because of their receding hairline above the temples.
10. 40–50% of women lose hair after giving birth.
(American Pregnancy Association)
During pregnancy, high levels of hormones prevent hair loss. However, at around three months after giving birth, 40–50% of women notice an increase in hair loss rate. This happens because as hormones return to normal levels, the hair growth cycle returns to its previous state.
11. Over 50% of women older than 65 experience thinning hair.
(True & Dorin)
This problem is connected to menopause in women, as estrogen levels decrease and androgen levels increase in the blood. However, hair loss in women is less noticeable than in men.
Alopecia Statistics—Different Types of Alopecia
12. Traumatic alopecia is more common in women than in men.
(MediciNet)
The leading cause of traumatic alopecia in women is aggressive hair styling. Braids, weaves, and tight ponytails can all lead to increased hair loss in women. So the next time you want to put your hair up in a tight ponytail, hair loss statistics like these should make you think twice.
13. 31.7% of African women with permed or relaxed hair suffer from some degree of traction alopecia.
(Medical News Today)
African and African American women are known for their fantastic hairstyles that involve braids, cornrows, and box braids. However, these hairstyles can have serious consequences—the main one being traction alopecia.
This condition is caused by wearing one hairstyle for too long, especially if it requires tugging and pulling of the hair. This leads to the hair loosening from the follicle and falling out.
14. 6.8 million people in the US suffer from alopecia areata.
(National Alopecia Areata Foundation)
According to the latest available hair loss statistics, US residents, particularly 6.8 million, have alopecia areata to blame for their hair loss. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss on the scalp, face, and other hair-bearing areas of the body.
While there is no cure for alopecia areata, your hair follicles remain alive, which means your hair can grow back when the disease passes through its active phase.
15. The most common type of alopecia areata is patchy alopecia on the scalp.
(NCBI)
According to baldness statistics and studies, although alopecia areata affects any hair-bearing areas of the body, the scalp is the most commonly affected area. It is also primarily patchy as opposed to complete hair loss.
According to this study on alopecia areata, the disease is medically challenging to manage, but there have been some improvements in searching for new treatment options.
Hair Restoration Market Statistics
16. In 2020, the hair restoration market value reached $9.2 billion.
(Mordor Intelligence)
If you look at the statistics on money spent to reverse hair loss, the figures are staggering. The value of the hair restoration market will continue to grow as these treatments are in demand now more than ever. In fact, by 2026, the industry value is projected to reach $12 billion.
17. North America accounts for a little over 35% of the hair restoration market.
(Globe Newswire)
To this day, the US is the largest market for hair restoration treatment, as the most significant number of people suffering from hair loss seek help. Experts believe that this percentage will only continue to grow in the coming years.
18. Men make up 84.2% of individuals undergoing surgical hair restoration procedures.
(ISHRS)
Whether we are talking about surgical or non-surgical hair restoration practices, balding statistics imply that men are more commonly the patients. While there are multiple reasons behind this decision, the main one is that male hair loss is simply more visible.
18. In 2019, more than 50% of surgical hair restoration patients from both genders were between 30 and 49 years of age.
(ISHRS)
Members of the ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) who have treated both female and male hair loss sufferers stated that more than half of the patients fell between the ages of 30 and 49.
19. In 2019, 182,025 hair restoration surgeries were done in the United States and Canada.
(ISHRS)
Hair restoration surgeries are a very common hair loss treatment in the United States and Canada.
According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, in 2019, 182,025 hair restoration surgeries were performed in the United States and Canada—almost two times more than the European figure. This prompts the progressive development of the hair restoration service market.
20. 37% of people who undergo hair restoration treatments state that “Social/Dating” is the main reason for getting treatments.
(ISHRS)
Physicians of the ISHRS affirm that 37% of their patients choose “Social/Dating” as the primary reason they seek treatment, while 35% undergo surgery for “Professional/Career” reasons.
Hair Loss Statistics Worldwide
21. The Czech Republic has the highest percentage of male baldness worldwide.
(Advanced Hair Studio)
The Czech Republic holds first place in male baldness, with 42.79% of men going bald. Spain is the runner-up at 42.6%, followed by Germany at 41.2%. Even though Europeans tend to suffer more from hair loss, Americans are the ones that most commonly seek hair replacement and restoration services.
22. Individuals of African descent have the lowest hair density.
(Karger)
Looking at hair loss statistics by country, you’d never guess that individuals of African descent have the lowest hair density.
A study was conducted to determine whether hair density differed between races or ethnicities. It included 169 people: 44 of African descent, 23 Caucasians, and 99 people of Hispanic descent. The results demonstrated that Caucasians had the highest hair density, followed by Hispanics, and, lastly, people of African descent.
23. East Asians have the lowest hair loss rates around the world.
(HT&RC)
How common is male pattern baldness in this part of the world? It’s not that common. In particular, China has the least number of bald men worldwide. Additionally, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand all have low hair loss rates.
Hair loss statistics in these countries show that baldness rates go anywhere from 20% to 30%. It’s still a high percentage, but we should also consider that men who do go bald in these parts of the world generally start to lose hair in their 40s and 50s as opposed to their 20s and 30s.
24. In the US, approximately 30 million women and 50 million men suffer from hereditary hair loss.
(The Washington Post)
These hair loss statistics reported by the American Academy of Dermatology show how widespread the hair loss problem is. Almost 80 million people in the US alone deal with hair loss on a daily basis. While there are numerous factors that can trigger hair loss, such as stress, certain medications, etc. the most common one is genetics. Nobody can completely prevent hair from falling out, especially as we get older; it’s part of the genetic process.
25. According to hair loss demographics, Caucasians are more prone to hair loss than African Americans and Asians.
(Belgravia)
While the causes of hair loss remain the same in all races, Caucasians have the highest percentage of genetic hair loss, while Asians are less susceptible. Traction alopecia, which isn’t that common in both races, is prevalent among African Americans.
26. Hereditary hair loss is the most common hair loss culprit globally.
(WebMD)
That being said, four out of ten people will experience hereditary or genetic hair loss. Despite our knowledge of balding statistics, it’s still a challenge to this day to come up with a cure for hereditary hair loss.
However, you can take action to at least slow down the thinning of your hair. This includes applying treatments, such as Minoxidil and Finasteride, consuming enough foods that are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, taking multivitamins, and having your scalp massaged.
Conclusion
We should take these hair loss statistics seriously, as they can help us better understand what people affected by this unfortunate condition might be going through.
People who suffer from hair loss have stated that the condition heavily affects their personal and social life. Both men and women that experience it tend to lose self-esteem and consider themselves unattractive. This alone can have severe consequences on mental and physical health.
FAQ
Hair loss is a condition that scientists have been researching about for decades. One of the main goals is to discover what causes hair loss in both men and women. Looking at different research results, we can conclude that many factors can lead to hair loss.
One of the most common types of male baldness is a hereditary condition called androgenic alopecia. However, this is the primary cause of hair loss not just in men but also in women. In women, the condition is called female pattern baldness.
Throughout the years, researchers have been looking for the best way to prevent hair loss. While we can’t actually stop the genetic process involved in hair loss, there are ways to slow it down. Most doctors will say that taking care of your health can help significantly.
With that in mind, here are a few vitamins you can take to improve the health of your hair:
- Biotin (B7)
- Niacin (B3)
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
- Iron
All of these supplements help make your hair healthier and stronger.
Before a dermatologist can prescribe hair loss treatments, they first need to determine the cause of hair loss by doing several tests. Based on the test results, they will then prescribe or recommend treatment.
Currently, the only hair re-growth product approved by the FDA is Minoxidil (Rogaine®), which you can get without a prescription.
In more severe hair loss cases, dermatologists can prescribe other FDA-approved drugs that will stimulate hair regrowth: Finasteride (Propecia®) and Spironolactone.
Determining the course of treatment will depend on the hair loss cause. So, it’s difficult to say which one is the most effective. However, apart from prescription medication, other treatments include:
- Micro-needling
- Corticosteroid injections
- Laser therapy
- Hair transplant
If you don’t want to rely on a hair loss treatment, making certain lifestyle changes can also improve the health of your hair. For example, you can quit smoking, do scalp massages, have a balanced diet, and reduce stress. Generally, you should take good care of yourself.
The best way to know what’s causing you to lose your hair is to visit a dermatologist. Usually, during the appointment, the dermatologist will ask you some specific questions, examine your scalp, nails, or any other area affected by hair loss, or test your hair by gently pulling it.
If necessary, the dermatologist will request a blood test, scalp biopsy, and light microscopy. Based on the test results, they will then recommend a treatment plan to help reduce hair loss.
Hair loss statistics already show us that most cases are hereditary, but it’s always best to err on the safe side and have yourself checked.