Lifestyle and Preventive Health
Allergy Rates by Country 2026
Food Allergy Prevalence in Children
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
7%
8%
9%
6 Countries with the Most Child Food Allergies
Country | Food Allergy Prevalence in Children 2023↓ | Food Allergy Prevalence in Adults 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | China | 8.71% | 8.14% |
 | Canada | 7.35% | 5.36% |
 | Spain | 5.23% | 4.65% |
 | United States | 4.32% | 6.3% |
 | United Kingdom | 4.27% | 4.63% |
 | Japan | 3.9% | 2.1% |
 | France | 3.61% | 2.98% |
 | Italy | 3.04% | 6.59% |
 | Germany | 2.35% | 2.4% |
- Percentages were determined by a study of 46,572 children and 44,835 adults, which was published by Elsevier in Nov. 2023.
- The study was based off data between October 2022 and February 2023
- The reported data were obtained from adults ages 18 to 65, adolescents ages 12 to 17, and parents of children under the ages of 6 to 11 months old
- The most prevalent allergens were peanuts, milk/dairy products, and eggs in all countries except China (wherein shrimp is the most prevalent allergen)
Food Allergy Prevalence The percentage of people in a population who are estimated to have food allergies.
China Reports the Highest Food Allergy Rates
China reported the highest food allergy prevalence in the dataset for both children and adults in 2023. An estimated 8.71% of children and 8.14% of adults in China were affected by food allergies, placing the country noticeably ahead of the other nations listed.
Canada ranked second for childhood food allergy prevalence at 7.35%, while Spain, the United States, and the United Kingdom also reported relatively high rates among children. Across most countries in the dataset, food allergies affected a meaningful share of the population, highlighting how common allergic conditions have become in many developed and urbanized societies.
Children Often Have Higher Allergy Rates Than Adults
In most countries in the dataset, children reported higher food allergy prevalence rates than adults. Canada showed one of the largest gaps, with childhood prevalence at 7.35% compared to 5.36% among adults. Japan also displayed a notable difference, with child allergy prevalence nearly double the adult rate.
Several explanations may contribute to this pattern. Some children outgrow certain food allergies over time, while increased awareness and improved diagnosis in recent decades may also lead to higher reported allergy rates among younger populations compared to older generations.
Adult Allergy Rates Vary More Between Countries
Adult food allergy prevalence showed wider variation across countries than childhood rates. Italy reported the highest adult allergy prevalence in the dataset at 6.59%, slightly ahead of the United States at 6.3%. By contrast, Japan reported one of the lowest adult prevalence rates at just 2.1%.
These differences may reflect variations in diet, healthcare systems, diagnostic standards, environmental exposure, and public awareness. In some countries, adults may also be more likely to seek formal diagnosis or avoid foods associated with allergic reactions, influencing how prevalence is measured and reported.
Diet, Environment, and Diagnosis Influence Allergy Rates
Researchers believe food allergy prevalence is shaped by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Urbanization, dietary habits, pollution exposure, antibiotic use, and differences in early childhood immune development have all been studied as possible contributors to rising allergy rates worldwide.
Diagnosis and reporting practices also vary between countries. Nations with greater healthcare access and stronger public awareness campaigns may identify more allergy cases through medical testing and screening, while underdiagnosis may remain more common in other parts of the world.
