Where Data Tells the Story
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What is the most frequently broken human bone?
Using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, this chart ranks the 12 anatomical sites with the highest number of new fractures worldwide. In 2019 there were 178 million new fractures across 204 countries and territories, covering all ages from newborns to 95+.
The study grouped fractures into these 12 sites:
Fractures of the lower leg (patella, tibia/fibula, or ankle) were the most common. Fractures of the sternum and ribs were the least common. Men outnumbered women in every category except hip fractures.
Note on methodology: When an injury caused fractures at multiple sites, the study counted only the most severe fracture, ranked by disability weight.