Number of people with Parkinson's rising

For the last few years, we've been saying around 127,000 people in the UK have Parkinson's.

By analysing medical records of a large sample of patients registered with UK GPs, Parkinson's UK recently updated this number, and set out a new picture of what Parkinson’s means to the UK in 2018, and beyond.

What we discovered

We now estimate there are 145,000 people in the UK who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's. That means 50 people in the UK are diagnosed with the condition each day.

And due to our growing and ageing population, the number of people diagnosed with Parkinson's in the UK will increase. It's expected that 1 in 37 people will be diagnosed with Parkinson's in their lifetime.

What does this mean for the charity?

Parkinson's UK Chief Executive Steve Ford says:

"We've understood for some time that the number of people living with Parkinson's is on the rise.

"The new ways of working we've brought in over the last couple of years have put us in a stronger position to reach greater numbers of people and make change happen more quickly.

"What these new figures will really help us do now is talk with more urgency about the scale of the issue. The more people affected, the more care providers, policy makers and drug companies will need to take notice - and action.

"By the end of 2018 we'll have a clearer picture of what's working well, and where bigger improvements are needed. Next year we can put the right plans in place for 2020 and beyond to bring us closer to the day we can say 'People used to have Parkinson's'."

So what does this mean to you?

Stephen Hill, Parkinson's UK Head of Volunteering, says:

"We all have the chance to tell someone about what it means to be affected by Parkinson's. Whether you're giving a talk, providing updates to groups or sharing information online with friends and family, having accurate information is vital."

So, however you volunteer, make sure you have the Parkinson's UK fast facts below at your fingertips as we try to reach all corners of the UK.

Fast facts​

• The number of people diagnosed with Parkinson's in the UK is expected to increase by nearly a fift​h between 2018 and 2025 – rising to around 168,000.
• Every day, 50 people are diagnosed with Parkinson's in the UK.
• An estimated 145,000 people across the UK have Parkinson's.
• 1 in 350 adults in the UK has the condition.
• More men than women have Parkinson's.