Hemorrhoids are one of the most common health conditions you can have. A large global analysis of 163 studies estimates that about 26% of people have hemorrhoids at any given time, and the lifetime prevalence reaches roughly 27%. In the United States, about half of adults over 50 are affected, and hemorrhoids rank as the third most common outpatient gastrointestinal diagnosis, generating nearly 4 million doctor and emergency room visits every year.
How Common They Are by Age
Hemorrhoids can develop at any age, but they become significantly more common as you get older. The tissues supporting the veins around the anus and rectum weaken over time, making swelling and stretching more likely with each passing decade. By age 50, roughly half of adults have experienced hemorrhoids. Among people older than 45, some estimates put the figure as high as 75%.
Younger adults get them too, but far less frequently. The peak years for seeking treatment tend to fall between ages 45 and 65, which tracks with the gradual loss of supportive tissue and the cumulative effects of lifestyle factors like diet, weight, and time spent sitting.
Many People Have Them Without Knowing
A sizable number of hemorrhoids never cause symptoms. In one study of over 3,000 adults who underwent routine colonoscopy screening and had no complaints, 16% were found to have hemorrhoids their doctors spotted incidentally. These people had no pain, no itching, and no bleeding. They simply had enlarged tissue that wasn’t causing trouble.
This matters because the true prevalence is almost certainly higher than what surveys capture. Most statistics rely on people reporting symptoms or visiting a doctor. If you add in the cases that go entirely unnoticed, the real numbers climb further. Having hemorrhoids is so common that it’s closer to a normal variation of anatomy than a rare disorder.
Internal vs. External Types
Hemorrhoids come in two forms. Internal hemorrhoids develop inside the rectum, where you can’t see or feel them unless they prolapse (slide out). External hemorrhoids form under the skin around the anus and are the ones most likely to cause pain and visible swelling. In clinical settings, external hemorrhoids tend to be diagnosed more often: one study of patients seeking treatment found about 69% had external hemorrhoids and 31% had internal ones. That split likely reflects the fact that internal hemorrhoids are easier to ignore, since they’re painless in earlier stages.
Who Gets Them More Often
Men and women develop hemorrhoids at similar biological rates. Hospital records sometimes show far more men being treated, but researchers attribute this gap to cultural barriers that discourage women from seeking care for anorectal problems rather than to any real difference in how often the condition occurs. One hospital-based study in Afghanistan, for example, found men made up nearly 84% of hemorrhoid patients, a ratio the authors linked directly to social restrictions on women accessing healthcare.
Pregnancy is a major independent risk factor. Between 25% and 35% of pregnant women develop hemorrhoids, driven by hormonal shifts that relax vein walls and the growing uterus pressing on pelvic blood vessels. In certain populations, up to 85% of pregnancies involve hemorrhoids by the third trimester. Most of these resolve after delivery, though they can recur in future pregnancies.
What Raises Your Risk
Several everyday factors make hemorrhoids more likely. Constipation tops the list because straining during bowel movements puts direct pressure on the veins around the rectum. A low-fiber diet contributes by producing harder, drier stools that are more difficult to pass. Higher body weight increases intra-abdominal pressure, and prolonged sitting, whether at a desk or on the toilet, keeps steady pressure on the same area.
Fiber intake has one of the strongest evidence bases of any modifiable risk factor. Studies show that increasing dietary fiber reduces the risk of persistent hemorrhoid symptoms by about 47% and cuts the risk of bleeding by roughly 50%. Notably, fiber’s protective effect holds even after adjusting for constipation, suggesting it does more than just soften stool. Adequate fluid intake alongside fiber is key, since fiber without water can actually worsen constipation.
Prevalence Around the World
Hemorrhoids affect people everywhere, though rates vary modestly by region. The African region has the highest estimated prevalence at about 28%, followed by the Americas at 26% and Europe at 26%. Southeast Asia reports the lowest rates at around 23%. These differences likely reflect a mix of dietary patterns, healthcare access, and how consistently the condition gets diagnosed and reported rather than any fundamental biological variation between populations.
Regardless of geography, hemorrhoids consistently rank among the most prevalent anorectal conditions on every continent studied. The global pooled prevalence of roughly 26% means that in a room of four people, at least one of them statistically has hemorrhoids right now, whether they know it or not.