Nearly one in six people around the world is affected by infertility, according to a new report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), on 4 April.
The new estimates, using data from 1990 - 2021, underscores the worrying global increase in rates of infertility – defined as a failure to achieve pregnancy after trying for over a year.
Why is infertility on the rise? Who is impacted? FIT breaks it down.
Key findings of the report:
17.5 percent of the adult population in the world is affected by infertility.
There isn't much variation in rates of infertility by region, and income.
High-income countries estimated 17.8 percent
Low- and middle-income countries recorded 16.5 percent