Is hay fever common in the UK?
Yes, hay fever is very common in the UK. Roughly one in four people suffer from the condition, which amounts to about 16 million people. Some surveys suggest the figure is even higher, with up to 49% of the UK population reporting hay fever symptoms.
Key points:
- Hay fever affects around 26% of adults and 1 in 6 children by age 6
- The UK is tied with Sweden for having the highest proportion of hay fever sufferers in Europe
- Grass pollen is the main trigger, affecting nine out of ten hay fever sufferers in the UK
- The condition has become significantly more common in recent decades, with cases rising substantially since the 1970s
This text has been fact-checked for accuracy by medino's clinical team.