Women Report More Pain Than Men Globally
A study of over 6.1 million people across 118 countries found women reported higher pain prevalence across all 11 anatomical sites examined.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Women’s Issues
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A global study published in Nature Medicine examined pain across 11 anatomical sites in more than 6.1 million people in 118 countries. Women reported more pain than men at every site studied.
Why it matters
The findings suggest a consistent sex-based difference in pain across a very large and geographically diverse population. Understanding this pattern may inform how pain is studied and treated across different populations worldwide.
The study is based on self-reported pain across 11 anatomical sites in more than 6.1 million people in 118 countries, with women showing 83% higher relative facial pain prevalence and 74% higher headache prevalence than men. The extraction does not specify the mechanisms behind these differences.
The players
Nature Medicine
Nature Medicine is a peer-reviewed biomedical journal that publishes research on clinical medicine and translational science.
The details
Researchers examined pain prevalence across 11 anatomical sites in 118 countries. Women reported high-intensity and widespread pain more often than men, with notable gaps in facial pain, headaches, and stomach or abdominal pain.
Timeline
Study findings were published in Nature Medicine on November 2, 2026.
Health Landscape
Large multinational pain surveys published in peer-reviewed venues such as Nature Medicine are beginning to map sex-based differences in pain at population scale. This study adds a 118-country dataset to that body of evidence on women's pain experience.
Readers who experience frequent headaches, facial pain, or abdominal pain may find the study's sex-based differences relevant to how they discuss symptoms with clinicians. The findings do not establish changes to individual treatment at this time.
The takeaway
Women's higher reported pain across a broad global sample underscores the value of sex-specific attention in pain research and clinical conversations. Individuals tracking persistent pain may benefit from documenting symptoms clearly for their healthcare providers.
Further reading
Explore more on Women's Issues for broader context on how health differences affect women.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Hindu.
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