How many people in the US have Diverticular Disease?

US prevalence estimate: Diverticulosis affects >30% of U.S. adults age 50-59 and >70% of those older than 80; <5% of people with diverticulosis develop diverticulitis (NIDDK — Definition & Facts for Diverticular Disease).

Diverticular Disease

Diverticular Disease is indexed under Gastrointestinal, Structural GI. Also known as diverticulosis, diverticulitis.

US prevalence: Diverticulosis affects >30% of U.S. adults age 50-59 and >70% of those older than 80; <5% of people with diverticulosis develop diverticulitis Source: NIDDK — Definition & Facts for Diverticular Disease. Federal source. Label: VERIFIED.
ICD-10-CM codes: K57, K57.3
Typical onset: Increases with age; diverticulitis increasing in younger adults
Course: episodic
Body systems: gastrointestinal
Sex differences: M:F roughly equal; younger diverticulitis more common in men
Racial and ethnic differences: Right-sided diverticulosis more common in Asian populations

What this page does not establish

These figures describe populations, not individuals, and none of them is a diagnosis or a treatment recommendation. Prevalence estimates are approximate and reflect published ranges. Disparity figures are reported patterns, not causes.

Taxonomy last reviewed 2026-05-19. Each figure on the interactive page carries its own source and retrieval date, which can be later than this review.

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