Raynaud's statistics: how common is it?
Raynaud's is common. The only systematic review of general population studies (Garner and colleagues, BMJ Open, 2015; 33 studies, 33,733 people) put the pooled prevalence of primary Raynaud's at 4.85%, with 5.74% in women and 4.12% in men. Most cases are primary, while about 95% of people with systemic sclerosis have Raynaud's.
Key numbers at a glance
Each figure is listed with its study, year and population. Estimates differ because studies use different definitions, questionnaires and climates.
| Figure | Study, year and population | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 4.85% primary Raynaud's (95% CI 2.08% to 8.71%) | Pooled from 33 general population studies, 33,733 participants (2015) | Garner et al., BMJ Open |
| 5.74% women, 4.12% men | Same pooled review (2015) | Garner et al., BMJ Open |
| 0.25% new cases per year | Pooled annual incidence of primary Raynaud's (2015) | Garner et al., BMJ Open |
| 9.6% women, 8.1% men | Framingham cohort, 4,182 adults followed for 16 years (1997) | Brand et al. |
| 80% to 90% of cases are primary | Review of population studies (2014) | Maundrell and Proudman |
| About 95% of people with systemic sclerosis | Review of Raynaud's in scleroderma (2019) | Herrick |
| 18% to 46% of people with lupus | Review of Raynaud's in connective tissue disease (2022) | Maciejewska et al. |
How common is Raynaud's in the general population?
The most cited figure comes from Garner and colleagues, whose 2015 systematic review in BMJ Open included 33 studies and 33,733 participants. It pooled the prevalence of primary Raynaud's at 4.85% (95% CI 2.08% to 8.71%) and the annual incidence at 0.25%. Review chapters describe most general population estimates as falling between 3% and 5%.
That pooled figure is less precise than it looks. A 2024 umbrella review by Chen and colleagues found Garner's review to be the only systematic review of Raynaud's prevalence, rated it low quality and noted very high heterogeneity between the included studies (I² of 98.2%).
Patient associations quote higher numbers. The Raynaud's Association says Raynaud's affects as much as 5% to 10% of the population. That is context rather than a measured estimate, and it sits above the pooled figure from peer-reviewed data.
Is Raynaud's more common in women?
Yes, though estimates of the gap vary. In Garner's 2015 review, pooled prevalence was 5.74% in women and 4.12% in men, and female sex carried an odds ratio of 1.65. In the Framingham Study (Brand and colleagues, 1997), which followed 4,182 adults for 16 years, Raynaud's (primary and secondary combined) was found in 9.6% of women and 8.1% of men.
Much larger ratios circulate. The Raynaud's Association says women are affected nine times more than men. Population surveys show a much smaller gap, possibly because clinic figures reflect who seeks care. NIAMS lists women, people with a family history and people who live in cold climates as more likely to have Raynaud's.
Does climate change how common Raynaud's is?
Yes. A 2014 review chapter by Maundrell and Proudman reports that primary Raynaud's ranges from 2% to 20% in women and 1% to 12% in men depending on geographic location. In Garner's 2015 review, country estimates ran from 1.6% in Japan to 7.5% in the USA.
Climate is not the only difference between these populations. Studies also varied in age range, the questions used to define an attack and whether a clinician confirmed the diagnosis.
What share of Raynaud's is primary vs secondary?
Most Raynaud's is primary, meaning it has no underlying disease. Maundrell and Proudman put primary Raynaud's at 80% to 90% of cases. In the Framingham cohort, primary Raynaud's made up 81.4% of cases, and secondary Raynaud's was similar in men (18.6%) and women (19.7%). The most common secondary causes there were beta blocker use (34.2%), carpal tunnel syndrome (10.5%) and rheumatoid arthritis (7.2%).
Onset age differs. A 2022 review by Maciejewska and colleagues describes primary Raynaud's as usually beginning between ages 15 and 30 and secondary Raynaud's as usually beginning after 40. Maundrell and Proudman report that progression from primary to secondary Raynaud's occurs in 14% to 37% of people across studies.
How many people with scleroderma or lupus have Raynaud's?
Nearly all people with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) have it. Herrick's 2019 review puts the figure at about 95% and notes that Raynaud's in systemic sclerosis progresses to digital ulcers in about half of patients. Maciejewska and colleagues describe Raynaud's as typically the first sign of the disease.
In systemic lupus erythematosus, Raynaud's appears in 18% to 46% of patients. Herrick's review cites a pooled estimate that people with primary Raynaud's develop a connective tissue disease at 2.65 per 100 patient years and systemic sclerosis at 0.93 per 100 patient years, with higher rates when antinuclear antibodies or abnormal nailfold capillaries are present.
What risk factors are linked to primary Raynaud's?
Garner's 2015 review pooled odds ratios for several associations. These are associations, not proven causes.
Family history: odds ratio 16.6
Migraine: 4.02
Manual occupation: 2.66
Cardiovascular disease: 1.69
Female sex: 1.65
Smoking: 1.27
How we compiled these numbers
We prioritized pooled peer-reviewed estimates, then large cohorts, then clinical reviews, and used NIAMS and the Raynaud's Association for context only. Figures are reported with their year and population, and we have not combined studies. This page is updated each winter. Anyone with new color changes in the fingers, sores or symptoms that start later in adulthood should talk to a clinician.
Key takeaways
Pooled prevalence of primary Raynaud's is 4.85% (Garner, 2015), with most population estimates between 3% and 5%.
Women are affected more often: 5.74% vs 4.12% in pooled data, and 9.6% vs 8.1% in Framingham (1997).
About 80% to 90% of Raynaud's is primary; secondary Raynaud's usually starts after 40.
About 95% of people with systemic sclerosis and 18% to 46% of people with lupus have Raynaud's.
The evidence base is thin: the only prevalence review is rated low quality.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of people have Raynaud's?
A 2015 systematic review pooled the prevalence of primary Raynaud's at 4.85% in general populations. Most individual studies fall between 3% and 5%, and the Raynaud's Association cites up to 5% to 10%.
Is Raynaud's more common in women or men?
Women. Pooled data show 5.74% in women and 4.12% in men, and the Framingham Study found 9.6% and 8.1%. The Raynaud's Association cites a nine to one ratio, a much larger gap than population surveys show.
How many cases of Raynaud's are secondary?
About 10% to 20%. In the Framingham cohort, 81.4% of cases were primary, and secondary Raynaud's accounted for about 19% in both sexes.
Do all people with scleroderma have Raynaud's?
Nearly all. A 2019 review puts the figure at about 95% of people with systemic sclerosis, and Raynaud's is often the first sign of the disease. The reverse does not hold, because most Raynaud's is primary.
Is Raynaud's more common in cold climates?
Yes. NIAMS lists living in a cold climate as a risk factor, and review data show primary Raynaud's ranging from 2% to 20% in women and 1% to 12% in men by location. Differences in study methods also explain part of that spread.
Related reading
Sources
Prevalence, incidence, and mortality of Raynaud's phenomenon, Sjögren's syndrome and scleroderma: an umbrella review of systematic reviews (Chen et al., 2024), Rheumatology Advances in Practice
The Occurrence of Raynaud's Phenomenon in a General Population: The Framingham Study (Brand et al., 1997), Vascular Medicine
Epidemiology of Raynaud's Phenomenon (Maundrell and Proudman, 2014), Springer, Raynaud's Phenomenon
Raynaud's phenomenon (Herrick, 2019), Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders
Raynaud's Phenomenon with Focus on Systemic Sclerosis (Maciejewska et al., 2022), Journal of Clinical Medicine
Raynaud's Phenomenon, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Frequently Asked Questions, Raynaud's Association
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