Statistics

Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects millions of people throughout the world and is particularly common among those whose ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa; Spanish-speaking regions in the Western Hemisphere (South America, the Caribbean, and Central America); Saudi Arabia; India; and Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy.
The exact number of people living with SCD in the U.S. and the world is unknown. However, it is estimated more than 300,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease worldwide each year. Despite being the most prevalent genetic disease in the world, sickle cell is still the most ignored disease in the world. While 75 percent of all patients with SCD live in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria alone accounts for more than 100,000 new births every year. Follow by Democratic of Congo with more 40,000 to 50,000 newborn babies with the sickle cell disease each year.
SCD affects approximately 100,000 Americans. SCD occurs among about 1 out of every 365 Black or African-American births. SCD occurs among about 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic-American births. About 1 in 13 Black or African-American babies is born with sickle cell trait (SCT)