Fatigue Statistics: 30+ Key Facts and Figures (2025)

Fatigue Statistics: Key Facts and Figures (2025)

Fatigue is one of the most common health complaints in the UK — affecting up to 40% of the population at any given time and accounting for 5–7% of all GP consultations. Despite its prevalence, it remains widely underdiagnosed, particularly in conditions like ME/CFS and burnout.

This page compiles the most important fatigue statistics from authoritative sources including the NHS, CDC, Mental Health UK, RAND Europe, and peer-reviewed journals — updated for 2025.

---

Key Fatigue Statistics at a Glance

• 15–40% of UK adults report fatigue in any given two to four week period
• 5–7% of all UK GP consultations are primarily about fatigue
• 404,000 people in the UK are estimated to have ME/CFS — 62% more than previously thought
• 91% of UK workers experienced high or extreme stress in the past year
• 60% of UK adults sleep 6 hours or less per night — below the NHS recommended minimum
• 37% of UK adults experience insomnia
• 1 in 5 UK workers took time off work due to stress-related poor mental health in 2025

---

General Fatigue Prevalence Statistics

How Common Is Fatigue in the UK?

• Between 15% and 40% of people in the UK report experiencing fatigue within any two to four week period, making it one of the most commonly reported health symptoms. (PMC / British Journal of General Practice)

• Fatigue is the principal complaint in an estimated 5–7% of all primary care consultations in the UK. (PMC)

• A study of 250,606 patients presenting with fatigue in UK primary care found that in men aged 65 and over, 12-month cancer risk exceeded 3%, underlining the clinical importance of fatigue as a presenting symptom. (PMC)

---

ME/CFS Statistics

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating condition characterised by fatigue that is not relieved by rest.

UK Prevalence

• An estimated 404,000 people in the UK have ME/CFS — approximately 62% more than previous estimates suggested, according to a 2025 study from the University of Edinburgh. (ME Association)

• In England alone, 100,055 people had been diagnosed with post-viral fatigue syndrome (ICD code G93.3) as of October 2023. (ME Association)

Global Prevalence

• Worldwide, an estimated 17–24 million people have ME/CFS. However, applying the CDC-1994 diagnostic criteria to the global population suggests the true figure could be as high as 71 million. (PMC)

• In the United States, 1.3% of adults had ME/CFS during 2021–2022. (CDC)

Gender Differences

• Women are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with ME/CFS than men. In the US, prevalence was 1.7% in women compared to 0.9% in men. (CDC)

Underdiagnosis

• An estimated 60% or more of people with ME/CFS have not received a diagnosis. (PMC)

Symptoms

• Among people with ME/CFS, the most commonly reported symptoms are:
  • Fatigue (88.2%)
  • Cognitive dysfunction / brain fog (88.4%)
  • Sleep disturbances (88.2%)
  • Pain (87.6%)
  • Post-exertional malaise (78.2%) (PubMed)

NHS Care

• Only 10.1% of ME/CFS patients reported a positive impact from updated NICE guidelines on their care. Satisfaction with NHS services remains low at 6.9% for ME/CFS patients. (PubMed)

---

Burnout and Workplace Fatigue Statistics

UK Burnout Rates (2025)

• 91% of UK workers experienced high or extreme levels of stress in the past year. (Mental Health UK, Burnout Report 2025)

• 1 in 5 UK workers took time off work due to stress-related poor mental health. (Mental Health UK, Burnout Report 2025)

• 2 in 5 Britons are considered at risk of burnout in 2025. (WeCovr)

Age Breakdown

• Adults aged 25–34 are the group most likely to experience high or extreme stress, with 96% reporting this in 2025. (Mental Health UK)

• 93% of workers aged 18–24 experienced high or extreme pressure or stress. (Mental Health UK)

• Nearly 2 in 5 (39%) workers aged 18–24 took time off due to poor mental health. (Mental Health UK)

Causes of Workplace Stress

• 47% of UK workers cite heavy workloads and unpaid tasks as top stress drivers. (Mental Health UK)

• 48% of 18–24 year olds report regularly working unpaid overtime as a significant stressor. (Mental Health UK)

Trust Breakdown

• The proportion of 18–24 year olds comfortable discussing stress with a line manager dropped from 75% to 56% in a single year. (Mental Health UK)

---

Sleep Deprivation Statistics

How Much Are UK Adults Sleeping?

• 60% of UK adults sleep 6 hours or less per night — below the NHS recommended minimum of 7 hours. (2024 survey of 15,000 UK adults)

• Only 27.9% of UK adults achieve the NHS-recommended 7 or more hours of sleep per night. (Land of Beds UK Sleep Report 2026)

• 40.5% of UK adults get 6–7 hours, and 24.9% manage only 5–6 hours per night. (Land of Beds)

• An estimated 7.5 million Britons sleep fewer than 5 hours per night. (Direct Line Group)

Health Impact

• Regularly sleeping under 6 hours per night raises the risk of premature death by 13%, according to a RAND Europe analysis. (The Sleep Charity)

• 37% of UK adults experience insomnia. (Mental Health UK)

NHS Recommendations

• The NHS recommends adults aim for 7–9 hours of sleep per night. Most UK adults fall significantly short of this.

---

Long COVID and Post-Viral Fatigue Statistics

• As of April 2024, an estimated 2 million people in England and Scotland (3.3% of the population) were experiencing self-reported Long COVID, with fatigue as the most prevalent symptom. (ONS via ME Association)

• The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to significantly increase ME/CFS prevalence globally due to post-viral onset. (PMC)

---

About This Page

These statistics are compiled from peer-reviewed journals, government health agencies, and established health charities. All sources are linked inline. This page is updated periodically as new data becomes available.

If you're experiencing persistent fatigue yourself, our free fatigue assessment can help identify the most likely causes based on your specific lifestyle.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

How common is fatigue in the UK?

Between 15% and 40% of UK adults report fatigue in any given two to four week period, and fatigue accounts for 5–7% of all GP consultations. It is one of the most commonly reported health symptoms in primary care.

How many people have ME/CFS in the UK?

An estimated 404,000 people in the UK have ME/CFS, according to a 2025 study from the University of Edinburgh — approximately 62% more than previous estimates suggested. More than 60% of cases are believed to be undiagnosed.

What percentage of workers experience burnout in the UK?

According to Mental Health UK's Burnout Report 2025, 91% of UK workers experienced high or extreme stress in the past year, and 1 in 5 took time off due to stress-related poor mental health. Two in five Britons are considered at risk of burnout.

How many hours of sleep do UK adults get?

Only 27.9% of UK adults achieve the NHS-recommended 7 or more hours of sleep per night. 60% sleep 6 hours or less, and an estimated 7.5 million Britons sleep fewer than 5 hours per night.