Facts & Statistics

Epilepsy Facts & Statistics

  • 1 in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy in their lifetime.
  • An estimated 3 million Americans and 65 million people worldwide currently live with epilepsy.
  • Each year at least 200,000 people are diagnosed with epilepsy.
  • In two-thirds of patients diagnosed with epilepsy, the cause is unknown.
  • Epilepsy affects more people than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s combined – yet receives fewer federal dollars per patient than each of these.
  • It is estimated that up to 50,000 deaths occur annually in the U.S. from status epilepticus (prolonged seizures), Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), and other seizure-related causes such as drowning and other accidents.
  • Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) accounts for 34% of all sudden deaths in children.
  • Epilepsy costs the United States approximately $15.5 billion each year. The indirect costs associated with uncontrolled seizures are seven times higher than that of the average for all chronic diseases.
  • 2.2 million troops have served in the current Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts; it is estimated that 440,000 of these soldiers will experience traumatic brain injury (TBI) and more than 100,000 of these soldiers are expected to develop post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE).
  • TBI can also result from sports-related incidents. A concussion is a brain injury and recognition and proper response to concussions when they first occur can help prevent further injury, the development of PTE, or even death.
  • Epilepsy affects all ages, socioeconomic and racial groups.
  • About 50 to 60 percent will be seizure free after using the first seizure medication tried.
  • 25 out of every 100 adults will develop uncontrolled epilepsy.
  • 30 to 35 percent of people with epilepsy also experience depression.
  • 50%–60% of children experiencing seizures will be free from them in adulthood.
  • The unemployment rate for people with epilepsy is two to three times that of the general population. For those with uncontrolled seizure conditions, it may be as high as 50%.
  • The high school graduation rate has been reported at 64%, compared with an overall national average of 82%.

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