Limb Loss Statistics

Updated 9/2024

Prevalence & Incidence

We estimate there to be over 5.6 million people currently living with limb loss or limb difference in the United States. Of that, nearly 2.3 million are people living with limb loss and 3.4 million are individuals living with limb difference. ¹

On average, each year over 500,000 Americans experience limb loss or are born with a limb difference. Amputations occur nearly 10 times more frequently (approximately 465,000 per year) than children born with limb differences (approximately 43,000 per year). ¹

Level of Limb Loss

Lower limb amputations (83%) occur much more frequently than upper limb amputations (17%), with toe amputations being the most common procedure. ¹

Demographic Information

Amputations occur most frequently in older adults, with those ages 65 years and older making up nearly 45% of the limb loss population, followed by those ages 45-64 making up nearly 42%. ¹

People who experience limb loss are:

• Up to four times (4x) more likely to be Black than White,²
• One and a half times (1.5x) more likely to be Latinx than White,³
• More likely to be lower income than higher income.⁴

Leading “Causes” of Limb Loss

The following statistics relate to health conditions that are largely correlated to limb loss, and illustrate that many health conditions can be present concurrently. Whether it be cumulatively or independently, the impact of these conditions may often lead to an amputation:

• 57% of people with limb loss had a preceding diagnosis of diabetes.¹
• 43% of people with limb loss (nearly 200,000 people) experience an infection prior to their amputation each year.¹
• 40% of all people who lose limbs each year have vascular disease.¹

The Cost of Amputation

In 2009, hospital costs associated with amputation totaled more than $8.3 billion. ⁵

Prognosis

Nearly half of the individuals who have an amputation due to vascular disease will die within 5 years. This is higher than the five-year mortality rates for breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. ⁶

Of persons with diabetes who have a lower extremity amputation, up to 55% will require amputation of the second leg within 2‐3 years. ⁷

References

1. Caruso M, Harrington S. (2024). Prevalence of Limb Loss and Limb Difference in the United States: Implications for Public Policy [White paper]. Amputee Coalition. https://1a2c2025.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Prevalence-of-Limb-Loss-and-Limb-Difference-in-the-United-States_Implications-for-Public-Policy.pdf
2. Fisher ES, Goodman DC, Chandra A. Disparities in Health and Health Care among Medicare Beneficiaries: A Brief Report of the Dartmouth Atlas Project. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2008.
3. Bancks MP, Kershaw K, Carson AP, Gordon-Larsen P, Schreiner PJ & Carnethon MR. (2017). Association of modifiable risk factors in young adulthood with racial disparity in incident type 2 diabetes during middle adulthood. Jama, 318(24), 2457-2465. doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.19546
4. Amin L, Shah BR, Bierman AS, Liscombe LL, Wu CF, Feig DS, Booth GL. “Gender differences in the impact of poverty on health: disparities in risk of diabetes-related amputation.” Diabet Med. 2014;31:1410–1417. doi.org/10.1111/dme.12507
5. HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2009.
6. Robbins JM, Strauss G, Aron D, Long J, Kuba J, Kaplan Y. Mortality Rates and Diabetic Foot Ulcers. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association2008 November 1, 2008;98(6):489‐93.
7. Pandian G, Hamid F, Hammond M. Rehabilitation of the Patient with Peripheral Vascular Disease and Diabetic Foot Problems. In: DeLisa JA, Gans BM, editors. Philadelphia: Lippincott‐Raven; 1998.

It is not the intention of the Amputee Coalition to provide specific medical or legal advice but rather to provide consumers with information to better understand their health and healthcare issues. The Amputee Coalition does not endorse any specific treatment, technology, company, service or device.