Key statistics at a glance
Pain can affect daily routines, work, family responsibilities, and the activities people value. The figures below come from the National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative U.S. survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
39.0%
of U.S. adults reported back pain
In 2019, 39.0% of adults reported back pain in the previous three months.
Source: CDC, National Health Interview Survey, 201910.3%
of U.S. adults reported neck pain
In 2019, 10.3% of adults reported neck pain in the previous three months.
Source: CDC, National Health Interview Survey, 201936.5%
of U.S. adults reported lower-limb pain
In 2019, 36.5% of adults reported lower-limb pain in the previous three months.
Source: CDC, National Health Interview Survey, 201930.7%
of U.S. adults reported upper-limb pain
In 2019, 30.7% of adults reported upper-limb pain in the previous three months.
Source: CDC, National Health Interview Survey, 201924.3%
of U.S. adults had chronic pain
In 2023, 24.3% of adults reported chronic pain, or pain experienced on most days or every day during the previous three months.
Source: CDC, National Health Interview Survey, 20238.5%
of U.S. adults had high-impact chronic pain
In 2023, 8.5% of adults reported chronic pain that frequently limited life or work activities during the previous three months.
Source: CDC, National Health Interview Survey, 2023How to read these figures
These are population statistics, not a diagnosis or prediction for any one person. Back, neck, limb, and chronic pain can have many causes. A personal conversation with an appropriate health professional is the best place to start when pain is new, severe, persistent, or affecting everyday life.
Musacchio Chiropractic welcomes patients and families who would like to talk through movement and comfort concerns in a calm, personal setting. Learn more about chiropractic care for back and neck concerns.
Sources and methodology
This page reports figures exactly as published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. The 2019 figures are from Data Brief No. 415, published in September 2021. The 2023 chronic-pain figures are from Data Brief No. 518, published in November 2024.
- CDC Data Brief No. 415: Pain in the United States, 2019
- CDC Data Brief No. 518: Chronic Pain and High-impact Chronic Pain Among Adults Aged 18 and Over, United States, 2023
Cite this page
Musacchio Chiropractic. "Back and Neck Pain Statistics in the U.S." Updated September 17, 2026.