Hair Loss Statistics (2024)

• Hair loss is diagnosed if you lose more than 100 hairs per day. There is a fine difference between hair loss and hair shedding. It is considered acceptable to shed 50 to 100 hair pieces a day. 
• Around 85% of men and 33% of women will at some time face hair loss. This problem is more common than you might think. Male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia makes up around 95% of male hair loss cases.
• More than 65% of American men will have hair loss of various degrees by age thirty-five. By the age of fifty, around 85% of men will have signs of thinning hair.
• Male pattern baldness may affect men of different ages. Around 25% of men having hair loss start the process before they are twenty-one. 
• Genetics is the most significant cause of hair loss: Male pattern baldness affects around 95% of all men who suffer from hair loss. Other causes can be diet, stress, lifestyle, and illness.
• Research shows that, in the UK, Alopecia Areata affects two people out of every 1,000. Alopecia Areata is considered by some researchers an autoimmune condition that causes bald patches affecting any body part, scalp, chest, armpits, eyelashes, eyebrows, etc.
• The top three nations with the highest rates of male hair loss are all in the West: Spain (44.50% of the male population affected), Italy (44.37%), and France (44.25%).
• 40% of women suffering from alopecia have had problems in their marriage due to their hair loss. Around 63% claim to experience problems related to their career.
• More than half of women may experience hair loss in the post-menopause period. A new study indicates that more than 50% of women experience hair thinning after they turn 50. The intensity of hair loss changes depending on various factors.
• Women leading stressful lives are 11 times more likely to suffer from hair loss. While it is unclear how exactly stress can prevent hair follicles from growing, researchers have noticed such a connection. Different studies are conducted to find out how stress can affect tissue regeneration.

The hair loss market had a global size of USD 52.37 billion in 2022 in terms of sales of hair loss products and treatments. Over the last 5 years, the hair loss market has grown by an average of 6.72% per year:

Based on our data, we forecast that the hair loss market will be worth over USD 88.18 billion in 2030.

The largest hair loss market is the U.S. with a sales volume of USD 18.34 billion in 2022. In comparison, the UK hair loss market is just under USD 3.67 billion in size.

We conducted a survey of 4,284 individuals worldwide to determine the countries with the most significant prevalence of male baldness. The top three nations with the highest rates of male hair loss are all in the West: Spain at 44.50%, Italy at 44.37%, and France at 44.25%. Roughly half of the countries on the list are from the Western region.

Read more here: Statistics: 47 Countries with the Most Bald Men

According to our user data, the number of male demanders for hair loss products and treatments predominates with 61%. If only the hair transplant segment is considered, the percentage of male demand is even higher at 84.2%.

Hair loss may be temporary or permanent. It can occur suddenly or develop gradually on your scalp or all over the body. Our research shows that the main symptoms of hair loss may include the following:

• Gradual thinning on top. In men, it typically starts from the hairline and forehead, while for women, it starts at the part of their hair. 24% of respondents experienced M-shaped hair loss in particular. However, only 2.6% reported having U-shaped hair loss.
• 19.8% of respondents reported having clumps of hair when combing or washing hair. 
• Around 13% had an itchy scalp. 
• 6% noticed losing more than 100 hairs per day.
• 3.2% had circular bald spots. Some people with hair loss will lose it on the scalp, beard, or eyebrows patches.
• 43.8% reported no symptoms.

There are different types of alopecia (hair loss). Hereditary hair loss is called androgenetic alopecia, also known as hormonal hair loss. It can occur both in men and women, mainly affecting the scalp. However, it can also occur in other places. It comes from both sides of the family, with the maternal side having a slightly greater influence. Our study shows that almost 71% of people participating in the research have another family member or members with hair loss. No cure for hereditary hair loss is available, but some treatments may help slow it down or even stop it.

There are various treatments for hair loss, depending on what causes it. Once the doctor determines the type of hair loss, they can prescribe an adequate treatment. 66.4% of our respondents reported using finasteride 1 mg to treat their hair loss, another 56.8% stated using 5% minoxidil foam. 14.3% reported using 5% minoxidil, and the same number of users had topical finasteride. 10.2% of respondents used oral minoxidil. 

Finasteride blocks testosterone from converting into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by inhibiting the enzyme reductase of 5α- DHT. DHT weakens follicles causing them to die. Finasteride is taken daily to treat hair loss. It suits only men. Women should use minoxidil instead as finasteride is not safe for women. On the other hand, Minoxidil in the form of foam is often used to treat hereditary hair loss. Also known as Rogaine, the medication stops hair from falling out. Minoxidil is advisable when hair just begins thinning out to obtain better treatment results.

Regarding other ways of treating hair loss, 43.5% of users have tried platelet-rich plasma against alopecia, and almost 32% introduced various vitamins and nutrients. A group of 27% stated using biotin, and 25% of respondents utilized ketoconazole shampoo. 

Almost 18% decided to get a wig, hairpiece, or extensions to cover balding areas, and smaller groups of less than 10% each went either using saw shampoo or dutasteride.

You can tackle hair loss with aggressive treatment or certain procedures such as a hair transplant, depending on its kind. However, some therapies may help stop hair loss if not caused by an underlying medical condition. 

There are shampoos specially for hair loss treatment. According to our study, the most common treatment is hair loss shampoo, as 32.6% of respondents tried some kind of it. It is also said that baby shampoos may have a positive effect too. Many styling products, such as bleaching, coloring products, hair spray, hair extensions, straightening iron, and a hair dryer, may contribute to hair loss. 

Secondly, 13.8% of people have used scalp massage against hair loss. There is limited research on that matter. But the existing studies suggest that scalp massage may lead to thicker hair. It stimulates blood circulation to the scalp skin. It is also believed that the scalp massage stretches the hair follicle cell, thus, prompting follicles to produce thicker hair.

Then, you could try adjusting your lifestyle by changing your diet, thus, lowering the risks of hair loss. You may consider increasing exercise, quitting smoking, avoiding stress, and consuming more vegetables, fish, and nuts. 11.2% of respondents in the study reported using food against hair loss.

Eating enough protein can help grow hair. Vegetable proteins such as potato, soya, and cereals bring more profit to the body than animal protein (meat, cheese, eggs), so balancing the diet by including these products may also help the situation. 

10% of respondents take some medication against hair loss, and 7% apply some ampules or supplements. 6.2% of respondents use food supplements to boost hair growth. Zinc, biotin, and vitamins A, B1, B12, D3, and C strengthen hair and nails. On the other hand, lack of vitamin D can promote hair loss. Eliminating the deficit can help the problem. However, the effect of food supplements in treating hair loss has not been scientifically proven. So, it is not clear if it actually helps. It does not harm the body and immune system, though.  

According to medihair´s plastic surgery and cosmetic statistics hair transplants are the most common cosmetic surgery among men in the US with 149,254 procedures per year. In comparison, nearly 1 million hair transplants are performed in Turkey each year.

As the chart below shows, 25.66% of people who participated in the research had hair loss for less than five years, 41.34% had it for 5-10 years, and 33 % experienced hair loss for more than ten years. Developing hair loss for more than five years can indicate androgenetic alopecia (hereditary hair loss). In fact, 70.5 % of patients considered for the research reported hair loss in the family, and 74.3% of patients have had alopecia for more than five years.

Medical treatment is one of the many options to tackle hair loss. Only 15.6% of people reported using either minoxidil or finasteride.

Oral finasteride is approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for hair loss treatment. It should be taken in tablet form daily. Finasteride prevents testosterone from converting into dihydrotestosterone, the hormone that influences follicles, causing baldness. Finasteride comes in different forms, such as liquid, gel, droplets, and tablets. Many studies show that finasteride helps many men slow down or stop hair loss and even improve hair growth and density.  

Finasteride needs to be taken long-term to get results. It takes around four months before the first effect is visible. The medication starts working immediately after the start, but the hair needs time to grow back. Some clinical trial results indicate that most men see improvements after a year of continuous use.

Minoxidil is another over-the-counter FDA-approved medication against hair loss. It is used in the form of solution or foam twice a day. Minoxidil stimulates the blood supply to the hair. If minoxidil is used continuously, the first improvements are seen in three-four months, and the maximum effect is seen in twelve months of use. Both men and women can use the medication. However, the dosage may differ. Minoxidil helps stop hair loss progression, though there are no proofs it triggers new hair growth. As stipulated by the manufacturer, minoxidil is effective in 70-80% of cases.

The pattern of male androgenetic alopecia is shown on the Hamilton-Norwood Scale, which determines the degree of hair loss. The scale has seven stages. Before undergoing the transplant procedure, the hair loss degree should be estimated. The scale is also helpful in determining the number of grafts needed for transplantation. In addition, it can help determine the further direction of hair loss development.  

The chart below shows that more than 40% of people choose to have a hair transplant when their hair loss has reached stage 4, which is quite advanced. Around 77% of people suffering from hair loss undergo transplantation between stages 2 and 4. Very few of them decide to do it on stage with no hair loss; only 9.63% and 13.45% of people with advanced hair loss will have the transplant on stage 5,6.

Hair loss has a dramatic effect on people’s emotional states. It can influence people’s self-confidence in every sphere of life. People suffering from alopecia may feel embarrassed, ashamed, and vulnerable. Hair loss could lead to the following: 

• Depression
• Self-Esteem
• Indirect effects on Career and Professional
• Indirect effect on Social Dating

In our study, we found out that 34.7% of respondents decided to undergo hair transplant surgery because of their career and professional life. 37% had dating and social life in mind when choosing in favor of this procedure. 14.4% have not provided any reason, and 13.9% mentioned others.

The medihair research team conducted a “Tinder experiment: Bald vs. Hair” featuring two nearly identical profiles: one of a man with hair and another of his bald twin. Over a span of ten days, both profiles swiped right on 1,000 individuals. The results after these ten days were quite revealing:

• The haired version was favored by female participants, with bald Harry securing only 27 matches from women, highlighting varying preferences between gay men and heterosexual women.
• Haired Harry received a higher number of direct messages (97), outpacing his bald twin. Though both profiles received mostly male messages, the haired version attracted more from females in absolute numbers.

Read more here: Medihair Tinder experiment: bald vs. hair

A new study shows that people in their 20s notice hair loss in China. It happens sooner than any generation before them. Stress, diet, and some hair treatments may be the reasons for the younger generation to face hair loss.  

Anecdotal data from a self-reported survey conducted at Tsinghua University, Beijing, suggests that 60% of respondents claimed losing hair. Even though balding is commonly associated with age, poor diet, thyroid disorders, and various medical conditions are other known causes of baldness that affect young people

Our study used the most comprehensive and objective data on hair transplant and loss. The information under investigation was gathered straight from our users and partner clinics. We gathered the data from the user’s answers to determine and analyze their hair loss. Over 1,000 individuals were included to our data set (n = 1,063). This number exceeds the ones utilized for medical societies reports as they use information from their members (e.g., ISHRS: n = 200). In addition, the data studied in our research is more non-biased than the data collected by hair transplant or restoration societies as it is gathered from patients and not from the clinics representing their patients. Nonetheless, data from the societies were studied in our research as well to provide a more holistic view of the issue.