In this article, we have listed the 20 countries with highest rates of erectile dysfunction. If you’re interested in this topic, it’s a must-read to understand which countries may have a higher prevalence of this condition.
Erectile dysfunction is a medical condition in which it is difficult for a male to achieve or hold an erection for sexual intercourse. Usually, this condition is most prevalent in older males.
However, with time, the presence of this dysfunction is increasing among all age groups. According to the International Journal of Impotence Research in 2002, an unfortunate prediction has been made about the global occurrence of erectile dysfunction rising to affect about 322 million men. This condition affects about 15% of men each year
Research shows that about one man in every ten will experience erectile dysfunction at some point in life. There may be many causes of erectile dysfunction, including physical, psychological, and lifestyle factors.
Physical factors leading to erectile dysfunction may include vascular or blood flow problems where insufficient supply of blood flow to the penis causes it to be unable to hold an erection for a sufficient time.
Conditions like high blood pressure and even diabetes can lead to erectile dysfunction since these conditions impact arteries, and hardened arteries lead to difficulty in potency.
With age, the likelihood of diabetes and hypertension increases which may be why men older than forty years are three times more likely to get erectile dysfunction in comparison to younger men.
Neurological causes also fall under the physical domain since injuries to the spinal cord can impact male reproductive system including the penis making it unable to hold an erection.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that can interfere with nerve signals, which are essential for an erection. Hormonal imbalances are also physical, such as insufficient testosterone levels leading to the inability to achieve and maintain an erection.
While we were doing our research for 20 countries with highest rates of erectile dysfunction we found that there can be psychological causes of erectile dysfunction as well, such as stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. According to the Journal of Sexual Medicine, depressed men have a 39% higher chance of developing erectile dysfunction than non depressed patients.
Males who are overburdened at work and those experiencing burnout may become overly stressed, and this may cause a lack of interest in sexual activity as well as the inability to have pleasurable and satisfactory intercourse.
Anxiety can involve a lack of interest in activities previously enjoyed and a general negative feeling towards various factors of life. Anxiety may lead to blood pressure and diabetes due to increased blood flow and an increase in blood sugar levels. Stress and anxiety medication is then consumed, and these medications can interfere with sexual potency, resulting in inability to have a stable erection.
If there is stress and anxiety because of one’s relationship, then this may also be the reason for a man to develop erectile dysfunction. According to the Reproductive Partners Medical Group, sexual dysfunction is present in twenty to twenty-five percent of infertile couples.
Those who experience low self-esteem and have body image issues may also have erectile dysfunction as per our research for 20 countries with highest rates of erectile dysfunction. Lifestyle factors can include being obese or overweight, smoking, and excessive intake of alcohol. Smoking damages blood vessels and can reduce blood flow to the penis, and any type of substance abuse also adversely impacts sexual ability.
Various treatment options exist, but only twenty-five percent of men receive treatment for their erectile dysfunction. There may be multiple reasons why men do not seek treatment, such as stigma and fear of judgment.
In countries where stigma and embarrassment are associated with a condition like this, the prevalence of the disease will be naturally higher than in countries with greater acceptance and higher awareness. Statistics reveal that Southeast Asia has the highest prevalence of erectile dysfunction. Due to the highly private and sexual nature of this condition, many men avoid going to doctors and seeking treatment.
Although some countries have more men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction, this condition is prevalent all over the world. When considering the countries with the highest prevalence of this condition, it should be noted that some countries conduct far more research than others, so only available information can be present in the most accurate manner.
America has the most research papers published about erectile dysfunction. The top twenty countries with the highest rates of erectile dysfunction are explained below in decreasing order.
Methodology
The list of 20 countries with highest rates of erectile dysfunction was created by gathering prevalence data from various research studies. The article “Epidemiology Update of Erectile Dysfunction in Eight Countries with High Burden” was used to rank Italy, France, Germany, Spain, the UK, the US, and China based on the prevalence rates mentioned in the study. Source
Three countries, Pakistan, Egypt, and Nigeria, were ranked based on prevalence rates obtained from the article titled “Prevalence of erectile dysfunction and its correlates among men attending primary care clinics in three countries: Pakistan, Egypt, and Nigeria.” For the rest of the countries, individual research was conducted to gather relevant data.
20. Tanzania
Lastly, we have Tanzania in our list of 20 countries with highest rates of erectile dysfunction. According to a study, The overall prevalence of ED was 29.7% in Tanzania. Men between the ages of 40-54 had a five times higher likelihood of having ED, and those over 55 years old had an even higher risk, about 11.7 times. High blood pressure was associated with a greater chance of experiencing erectile dysfunction.
19. Malaysia
In Malaysia, more than 16% of men above age 40 had moderate erectile dysfunction. If mild cases are also to be included, then about 60% of men above 40 years had erectile dysfunction.
Depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and age were some of the factors contributing to the development of erectile dysfunction.
18. Brazil
The country number 18 in our list of 20 countries with highest rates of erectile dysfunction with the highest prevalence is Brazil, with a prevalence of 42.1%. According to a research article, males with erectile dysfunction also have low self-esteem, problematic interpersonal relationships, increased extramarital affairs, less libido, and reduced sexual activity.
Males between the ages of 60 and 69 had a 2.2& higher chance of erectile dysfunction. This study also found that other than age, lower socioeconomic status was proportional to erectile dysfunction.
17. UK
The UK is the seventeenth highest, with a prevalence rate of 42.6% in our list of 20 countries with highest rates of erectile dysfunction. Excessive alcohol intake was the highest in the study,which suggested this finding. There are numerous different medicines available along with websites offering paid counseling as well. According to research published in 2000, there are many guidelines that should be followed once diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. Consultations with doctors should include physical examinations as well as medication recommendations.
16. United States
The sixteenth highest country stands for the United States of America, with a prevalence rate of 46.1%. According to a predictive research article,around 300 million men will have erectile dysfunction alone by the year 2025.
Approximately 85% of men between the ages of 76 and 85 currently have this condition. Understanding sexual health and further research on clinical trials is highly needed.
15. Germany
Germany is the fifteenth-highest country, with a prevalence rate of 46.1%. Obesity was highest in men with erectile dysfunction in the United States (34.7%). In Germany, hypertension and diabetes were the most common among men with erectile dysfunction.
According to a research article published in 2019, around 49% of males had moderate to severe symptoms. A strong association was found between depression and erectile dysfunction. The prevalence and severity of the condition increased with risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, depression, smoking, physical inactivity, and hypertension.
14. China
The country with the thirteenth highest reported cases is China, with a prevalence of 47.4. Research has shown that prevalence is increasing with time, and further samples need to be studied to confirm findings. Many males in China seek herbal treatment and medicine instead of the typical Western Treatments. Acupuncture is still a commonly practiced treatment in China. This may be a reason why inaccurate treatment results in an increased prevalence of erectile dysfunction.
13. Spain
Spain comes on number 13 with a prevalence rate at 46.6%. An estimated 1.5 to 2 million men in Spain between the ages of 25 to 70 experience different levels of erectile dysfunction. According to the ASSSA, interviewing patients can help determine whether the sexual dysfunction is because of physical or psychogenic causes. The term “impotency” is more commonly used and recommended because this word focuses on the problem instead of labeling males with this derogatory term.
12. France
12th in the list of 20 countries with highest rates of erectile dysfunction. is France, with prevalence at 47.8%. Research has shown that one in every three men after age 40 experienced erectile dysfunction with mild to moderate severity. In France, the majority of men who had erectile dysfunction were dissatisfied with partner relations. There are more than 4000 researchers currently working on the topic of erectile dysfunction.
11. Italy
The country that ranks eleventh on our list of 20 countries with highest rates of erectile dysfunction is Italy, with a 52.2% prevalence rate. Men in both categories of above eighteen and older men reported to have erectile dysfunction in comparison to other countries.
Considering the population of Italy, erectile dysfunction affects about 13% of men. However, this condition is still considered a taboo in Italian society. This unopened attitude in society compels men not to ask questions or seek advice from medical professionals. Visiting an andrologies should be encouraged in societies where prevalence is high, and acceptance is low.
10. Nigeria
Nigeria comes on number 10 in our list of 20 countries with highest rates of erectile dysfunction. According to a study, Erectile dysfunction affects 54.7% of Nigerian men over 40. It is believed that erectile dysfunction is caused by a lack of exercise, consumption of processed foods, and poor eating and resting habits. Furthermore, these men are more prone to stroke, heart disease, and premature death.
9. Iran
In a 2015 meta-analysis, it was discovered that the combined prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) was about 56.1%. Outdated beliefs might influence this high rate of ED in the Iranian population.
Some of these beliefs include the idea that sexual activity should only be initiated by men and that a good mother should suppress her own sexual desires. These beliefs may contribute to sexual health issues, including ED, among men in Iran.
8. Thailand
In Thailand,the prevalence rate is 29-65 % . The prevalence increases with age. Various lifestyle factors are the causes of increased rates, such as diet, inactive lifestyle, and chronic conditions appearing at earlier ages.
7. Egypt
Egypt is ranked seventh on our list of 20 countries with highest rates of erectile dysfunction.
Egyptian men have a 63.6% prevalence rate for ED. Studies suggest that erectile dysfunction is the primary culprit for broken marriages. Experts believe that smoking causes this problem in men as smoking constricts small blood vessels and reduces the blood flow.
6. Japan
Japan is at number 6 in our list of 20 countries with highest rates of erectile dysfunction because in Japan, the older you get, the more likely you are to have erectile dysfunction. Among individuals aged 40-49, approximately 63.7% experience erectile dysfunction.
In comparison, the older age groups, those aged 50-59 and 60-69, have even higher prevalence rates, with 78.2% and 90.3% respectively.
5. Philippines
In the Philippines, the rate of erectile dysfunction is 65%, clearly depicting that this is a common issue needing attention. There are clinics for males where privacy is essential and individualized treatment plans are offered.
4. Vietnam
A study conducted in Vietnam found that 66.9% of married men experienced ED symptoms. The majority had mild symptoms of ED. Age, religion, disease history, BMI, alcohol consumption, anxiety, quality of life, and consensual sex with their wives/partners were the key factors associated with erectile dysfunction.