Statistics
Prevalence of Long Covid
The prevalence of Long Covid in children and young people is a topic of ongoing discussion, in part due to the variety of ways data is reported across age groups and in how symptoms are identified. This page highlights the best available data.
The figures indicate a substantial and growing number of children experiencing prolonged symptoms that impact everyday functioning such as changes in eating habits, physical activity, behaviour, academic performance, social functions (interactions with friends, peers, family) and developmental milestones.
Paediatric Long Covid is a new childhood disease.
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Statistics from around the world.
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Children and Young People.
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Paediatric Long Covid Statistics
The most recent ONS survey, which was last published in April 2024, estimated that
111,816 3-17-year-olds in England and Scotland suffered Long Covid of any duration.
Of these, 65,988 were reported to have symptoms lasting 12 weeks or more.
The ONS was producing evidence on Long Covid in UK which was discontinued on March 2023.
This was in partnership with leading UK organisations: University of Oxford, University of Manchester, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Wellcome Trust. Long Covid Kids, Long Covid Support, Long Covid SOS and Long Covid Physio consulted with the ONS team.
"Long Covid is common, affecting up to 10% to 20% of children with a history of COVID-19. With almost 6 million US children potentially affected, this is higher than the number of children with asthma, the most common chronic health problem in children"
2020-2024: "Overall, 4% of children and 10%-26% of adults developed long COVID, depending on computable phenotype used."
2020-2023: "Overall, 7% of children and 8.5%-26.4% of adults developed PASC, depending on computable phenotype used."
Most recent estimates (2020-2024):
"Overall, 4% of children and 10%-26% of adults developed Long Covid, depending on computable phenotype used."
The most recent publication from the CLock study in 2024 is particularly significant, as
it extends the follow-up period to 24 months- well beyond the initial publication, which only reported on outcomes at 3 months. The authors state: "Some children and young people (CYP) infected with SARS-COV-2 experience impairing symptoms post-
infection, known as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC).Using data from the National
Long COVID in Children and Young People (CloCk) study, we report symptoms and
their impact up to 24-months post-infection. We found that 7.2% of children and young
people consistently meet the 'Long COVID' research definition at 3-, 6-, 12- and 24-months post infection. These children and young people reported around 5-to-6 symptoms at each time-point. Reinfected children and young people had more
symptoms than children and young people who report one infection; those who report
no infection had the lowest symptom burden. When researching Long COVID, we need to consider clinical impairment and the range of symptoms reported."
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Long COVID in children is of global concern, as reflected by the 2023 consensus definition from the WHO. Read More
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In the UK, a large paediatric hospital started research in Long Covid as far back as 2021, at the same time Long Covid Kids published our first study. Read More
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Prevalence is unclear: 4% recent but US data, 1% UK but this survey is older. Regardless, it is clear Long Covid is a signifant new childhood disease impacting the lives of children.
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Long COVID is common, affecting up to 10% to 20% of children with a history of COVID-19. Read More
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RECOVER
Long Covid in Young Children, School-Aged Children, and Teens
Paediatric Long Covid - A New Childhood Disease
More Statistics
Deaths from SARS-CoV-2 infection in children are more common than from many other vaccine-preventable childhood illnesses, such as mumps, measles, varicella and rubella.
According to the ONS, up to October 2022, 88 children in the UK were recorded as having died "due to COVID-19" (meaning SARS-CoV-2 infection), with additional deaths where SARS-CoV-2 infection "was involved"
A study published in the BMJ covering February 2020 to
March 2022 found that SARS-CoV-2 infection accounted for 1.4% of all deaths among
CYP in this 26-month period. The overall mortality rate due to SARS-CoV-2 infection
in CYP was 3.59 (2.88-4.42) per 1 000 000 person years, with the highest rates observed in the youngest children (< 5 years; 4.68 (3.16-6.68)) and in older
adolescents (16/17 years; 4.83 (2.57-8.26)) CYP. The study also identified disparities:mortality was higher among Asian and Black CYP compared to white CYP, and increased with greater socioeconomic deprivation.
A 2023 study by the University of Oxford, using data from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that among CYP aged 0 - 19 years in the United States, SARS-CoV-2 infection ranked eighth among all causes of death, and fifth among deaths caused by infections or respiratory diseases; and first in deaths caused
by infectious or respiratory diseases for CYP.
Over 13,000 children in the UK are estimated to have lost a parent due to SARS-CoV-
2 infection. This figure stands in contrast to estimates for other European countries,
including approximately 6000 in Germany, 6700 in France, 3400 in Spain and 4800 in
Italy.
Sammie McFarland,
CEO & Founder
The Challenge
"Prevalence of Long Covid in children has become highly debated, in part due to
inconsistencies in how data is reported across age groups and in how symptoms are
identified.
In my view, this has been influenced by a broader narrative that has consistently marginalised the children who have suffered long term harm"