Epilepsy: Epidemiology Report and Forecast to 2035

Powered by

All the vital news, analysis, and commentary curated by our industry experts.

$9995

Epilepsy is a neurological condition defined by repeated, unpredictable seizures resulting from abrupt, chaotic, and intense electrical activity among brain cells (World Health Organization, 2024a). Globally, it ranks as one of the most widespread neurological disorders (World Health Organization, 2024a). This chronic condition can develop at any point in a person's life. A diagnosis typically occurs after an individual experiences at least one seizure and sees a specialist, who evaluates detailed accounts of both the pre-seizure warning signs and the event itself (Fisher et al., 2014; NHS, 2025). While the condition was traditionally identified by two or more unprovoked seizures occurring at least 24 hours apart, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) updated this definition in 2014; it now encompasses individuals with just one unprovoked seizure if their likelihood of recurrence is 60% or greater (Fisher et al., 2014). Furthermore, the 2014 guidelines introduced criteria for a resolved diagnosis, which applies if a patient outgrows an age-specific epilepsy syndrome or remains free of seizures for a decade, provided they have not taken anti-seizure medication for the final five years (Fisher et al., 2014).
Additional diagnostic instruments include an electroencephalogram (EEG) to monitor abnormal electrical patterns in the brain and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to identify potential structural abnormalities (NHS, 2025). Despite the lack of a permanent cure, most individuals can effectively eliminate or decrease their seizure frequency by using anti-epileptic drug (AED) therapies (Epilepsy Action, 2026). Nevertheless, a segment of the patient population continues to experience seizures despite taking AED medications. This specific presentation of the condition is classified as drug-resistant or refractory epilepsy (Epilepsy Action, 2026).
For nearly 50% of diagnosed individuals, the underlying cause of the disorder remains completely unknown or idiopathic. For the remaining patients, the development of the condition has a variety of intricate and deeply hidden origins (Mayo Clinic, 2025; Epilepsy Society, 2026). Data shows that stroke serves as the primary catalyst for new-onset epilepsy among adults older than age 35 years (Mayo Clinic, 2025).
In the 7MM, the active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy will increase from 6,202,907 cases in 2025 to 6,507,453 cases in 2035, at an annual growth rate (AGR) of 0.49% per year. In the five major European markets (5EU: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK), the active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy will increase from 2,263,652 cases in 2025 to 2,383,522 cases in 2035, at an AGR of 0.53%. When examining the AGR by individual market, GlobalData forecasts that all markets except Japan will see an increase in the active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy during the forecast period. Among the 7MM, the US had the highest number of active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy in 2025 and 2035, at 3,121,302 cases and 3,306,827 cases, respectively. However, the UK will have the highest growth in the 7MM, at an AGR of 0. 84%.

Scope

This report provides an overview of the risk factors and the global and historical trends for epilepsy in the seven major markets (7MM: US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and Japan). It also includes a 10-year epidemiology forecast of the active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy in these markets from 2025–35. The active diagnosed prevalent cases are further segmented by sex and age (ranging from age 18 years to ages 85 years and older). The active diagnosed prevalent cases are further segmented by seizure type (generalized, focal, unclassified/unknown). This report also provides the diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy by type (Dravet syndrome [DS] and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome [LGS]) for both sexes, ages 18 years and older.

Reasons to Buy

The Epilepsy epidemiology series will allow you to:

Develop business strategies by understanding the trends shaping and driving the global epilepsy market.

Quantify patient populations in the global epilepsy market to improve product design, pricing, and launch plans.

Organize sales and marketing efforts by identifying the age groups that present the best opportunities for epilepsy therapeutics in each of the markets covered.

Table of Contents

List of Contents

List of Tables

List of Figures

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Catalyst

1.2 Related reports

1.3 Upcoming reports

2 Epidemiology

2.1 Disease background

2.2 Risk factors and comorbidities

2.3 Global and historical trends

2.4 7MM forecast methodology

2.4.1 Sources

2.4.2 Forecast assumptions and methods

2.4.3 Forecast assumptions and methods: active prevalent cases of epilepsy

2.4.4 Forecast assumptions and methods: active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy by seizure type

2.4.5 Forecast assumptions and methods: diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy by type – Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

2.5 Epidemiological forecast for epilepsy (2025–35)

2.5.1 Active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy

2.5.2 Age-specific active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy

2.5.3 Sex-specific active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy

2.5.4 Active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy by seizure type

2.5.5 Diagnosed prevalent cases of Dravet syndrome

2.5.6 Diagnosed prevalent cases of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

2.6 Discussion

2.6.1 Epidemiological forecast insight

2.6.2 Limitations of the analysis

2.6.3 Strengths of the analysis

3 Appendix

3.1 Bibliography

3.2 About the Authors

3.2.1 Epidemiologist

3.2.2 Reviewers

3.2.3 Vice President of Disease Intelligence and Epidemiology

3.2.4 Global Head of Pharma Research, Analysis, and Competitive Intelligence

About GlobalData

Contact Us

Table

Table 1: Summary of newly added data types

Table 2: Summary of updated data types

Table 3: Risk factors and comorbidities for epilepsy

Figures

Figure 1: 7MM, active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy, both sexes, N, ≥18 Years, 2025 and 2035

Figure 2: 7MM, diagnosed prevalent cases of DS, both sexes, N, ≥18 Years, 2025 and 2035

Figure 3: 7MM, diagnosed prevalent cases of LGS, both sexes, N, ≥18 Years, 2025 and 2035

Figure 4: 7MM, active diagnosed prevalence of epilepsy, men and women, %, ≥18 Years, 2015–35

Figure 5: 7MM, sources used and not used to forecast the active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy

Figure 6: 7MM, sources used to forecast the active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy by seizure type

Figure 7: 7MM, sources used to forecast the diagnosed prevalent cases of DS

Figure 8: 7MM, sources used to forecast the diagnosed prevalent cases of LGS

Figure 9: 7MM, active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy, N, both sexes, ≥18 Years, 2025

Figure 10: 7MM, active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy by age, N, both sexes, 2025

Figure 11: 7MM, active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy by sex, N, ≥18 Years, 2025

Figure 12: 7MM, active diagnosed prevalent cases of epilepsy by seizure type, N, both sexes, ≥18 Years, 2025

Figure 13: 7MM, diagnosed prevalent cases of DS, N, both sexes, ≥18 Years, 2025

Figure 14: 7MM, diagnosed prevalent cases of LGS, N, both sexes, ≥18 Years, 2025

Epilepsy: Epidemiology Report and Forecast to 2035 standard reports
Currency USD
$9,995

Can be used by individual purchaser only

$29,985

Can be shared globally by unlimited users within the purchasing corporation e.g. all employees of a single company


Undecided about purchasing this report?

Enquire Before Buying

Get in touch to find out about multi-purchase discounts

reportstore@globaldata.com
Tel +44 20 7947 2745

See what our customers are saying
testimonial-image
testimonial-image
testimonial-image
testimonial-image
testimonial-image
testimonial-image
testimonial-image

“The GlobalData platform is our go-to tool for intelligence services. GlobalData provides an easy way to access comprehensive intelligence data around multiple sectors, which essentially makes it a one-for-all intelligence platform, for tendering and approaching customers.

GlobalData is very customer orientated, with a high degree of personalised services, which benefits everyday use. The highly detailed project intelligence and forecast reports can be utilised across multiple departments and workflow scopes, from operational to strategic level, and often support strategic decisions. GlobalData Analytics and visualisation solutions has contributed positively when preparing management presentations and strategic papers.”

Business Intelligence & Marketing Manager, SAL Heavy Lift

“COVID-19 has caused significant interference to our business and the COVID-19 intelligence from GlobalData has helped us reach better decisions around strategy. These two highlights have helped enormously to understand the projections into the future concerning our business units, we also utilise the project database to source new projects for Liebherr-Werk to use as an additional source to pitch for new business.”

Market Analyst & Management, Liebherr-Werk

Your daily news has saved me a lot of time and keeps me up-to-date with what is happening in the market, I like that you almost always have a link to the source origin. We also use your market data in our Strategic Business Process to support our business decisions. By having everything in one place on the Intelligence Center it has saved me a lot of time versus looking on different sources, the alert function also helps with this.

Head of Key Accounts, Saab AB

Having used several other market research companies, I find that GlobalData manages to provide that ‘difficult-to-get’ market data that others can’t, as well as very diverse and complete consumer surveys.

Marketing Intelligence Manager, Portugal Foods

Our experience with GlobalData has been very good, from the platform itself to the people. I find that the analysts and the account team have a high level of customer focus and responsiveness and therefore I can always rely on. The platform is more holistic than other providers. It is convenient and almost like a one stop shop. The pricing suite is highly competitive and value for our organisation.

I like reports that inform new segments such as the analysis on generation Z, millennials, the impact of COVID 19 to our banking customers and their new channel habits. Secondly the specialist insight on affluent sector significantly increases our understanding about this group of customers. The combination of those give us depth and breadth of the evolving market.

I’m in the business of answering and helping people make decisions so with the intelligence center I can do that, effectively and efficiently. I can share quickly key insights that answer and satisfy our country stakeholders by giving them many quality studies and primary research about competitive landscape beyond the outlook of our bank. It helps me be seen as an advisory partner and that makes a big difference. A big benefit of our subscription is that no one holds the whole data and because it allows so many people, so many different parts of our organisation have access, it enables all teams to have the same level of knowledge and decision support.

Head of Customer Insight and Research, Standard Chartered

“I know that I can always rely on Globaldata’s work when I’m searching for the right consumer and market insights. I use Globaldata insights to understand the changing market & consumer landscape and help create better taste & wellbeing solutions for our customers in food, beverage and healthcare industries.

Globaldata has the right data and the reports are of very high quality compared to your competitors. Globaldata not only has overall market sizes & consumer insights on food & beverages but also provides insights at the ingredient & flavour level. That is key for B2B companies like Givaudan. This way we understand our customers’ business and also gain insight to our unique industry”

Head of Consumer Sensory Insights, Givaudan

GlobalData provides a great range of information and reports on various sectors that is highly relevant, timely, easy to access and utilise.  The reports and data dashboards help engagement with clients; they provide valuable industry and market insights that can enrich client conversations and can help in the shaping of value propositions. Moreover, using GlobalData products has helped increase my knowledge of the finance sector, the players within it, and the general threats and opportunities.

I find the consumer surveys that are carried out to be extremely beneficial and not something I have seen anywhere else. They provided an insightful view of why and which consumers take (or don’t) particular financial products. This can help shape conversations with clients to ensure they make the right strategic decisions for their business.

One of the challenges I have found is that data in the payments space is often piecemeal. With GD all of the data I need is in one place, but it also comes with additional market reports that provide useful extra context and information. Having the ability to set-up alerts on relevant movements in the industry, be it competitors or customers, and have them emailed directly to me, ensures I get early sight of industry activity and don’t have to search for news.

Senior Account Manager, TSYS

Related reports

View more Epilepsy reports
Pharmaceuticals
New
Venture Capital Investment Trends in Pharma - Q2 2026
$795 | July 2026
Pharmaceuticals
New
Merger and Acquisition Trends in Pharma - Q2 2026
$795 | July 2026
Pharmaceuticals
New
Emerging Market Outsourcing Report, Q2 2026
$2,950 | July 2026
Go even deeper with GlobalData Intelligence Center

Every Company Report we produce is powered by the GlobalData Intelligence Center.

Subscribing to our intelligence platform means you can monitor developments at Epilepsy: Epidemiology Report and Forecast to 2035 in real time.

  • Access a live Epilepsy: Epidemiology Report and Forecast to 2035 dashboard for 12 months, with up-to-the-minute insights.
  • Fuel your decision making with real-time deal coverage and media activity.
  • Turn insights on financials, deals, products and pipelines into powerful agents of commercial advantage.