MS Around the World

In addition to the estimated 400,000 people in the USA who have MS, there are more than 600,000 in Europe, more than 120,000 of them in Germany. As many as 75,000 Canadians are thought to be diagnosed with MS.

Worldwide, there are about 2.5 million people living with this condition.

MS is significantly more prevalent in western countries than it is in eastern countries, and northern regions have particularly high rates. It is not 100% clear why this is the case, but as MS has been linked to vitamin D deficiency, it is thought the long winters and fewer sunlight hours in northern areas of, western hemisphere countries like Canada, Scotland and Sweden may have something to do with it.

Differences in diet may also be a contributing factor, as well as different viruses and bacteria being present in different regions.

From
Life and MS