The Situation

The resources listed in this section are provided to highlight global and national information on living with diabetes. Some information may be outdated but new information is not available, accessible, or may remain relevant to highlight its importance.

The International Diabetes Federation is an umbrella organization with over 170 countries divided globally into 7 regions. Belize is located in the North and the Caribbean Region. (click)

The IDF Diabetes Atlas is an authoritative source of evidence on the prevalence of diabetes, related morbidity and mortality, as well as diabetes-related health expenditures at global, regional and national levels. This information is divided into 7 regions. Belize is located in the North and the Caribbean Region. (click)

Globally, diabetes affects a significant portion of the adult population, with 589 million adults, or 1 in 9, currently living with the condition. This number is projected to rise dramatically to 853 million by 2050. A striking 81% of these individuals reside in low- and middle-income countries. The disease also contributes to a substantial number of deaths, with 3.4 million fatalities attributed to diabetes in 2024, equating to one death every six seconds.

Focusing on North America and the Caribbean, 56 million adults, or 1 in 7, are living with diabetes, with projections indicating an increase to 68 million by 2050. A concerning 33% of these cases remain undiagnosed. The region experienced 526,000 diabetes-attributed deaths in 2024 and accounts for a substantial 43% of global diabetes-related health expenditure, totaling USD 439 billion. In Belize specifically, 13.2% of adults (approximately 32,200 people) are affected, with 42% undiagnosed. Additionally, 33.1% show signs of prediabetes, and there are higher rates among women (17.4%) compared to men (11.3%). Diabetes is the 4th leading cause of death in Belize (6.6% in 2021), with a projected rise in prevalence to 16.4% by 2045.

References

Belize Diabetes Foundation Brochure