For too long, arthritis has been dismissed as a normal part of ageing, something to simply endure. But the reality is far more serious.
Arthritis Society Canada commissioned the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis (CANCEA) to conduct a world-first analysis and report titled “Economic and Social Value Burden of Arthritis” to uncover this hidden burden.
Modelling the crisis from 2025 to 2055, this report puts a dollar value on the economic toll of arthritis in Canada and measures the cost of pain, disability and missed moments with loved ones.
For the first time, the data tells the full story. It finally captures the hundreds of agonizing decisions pain forces people to make every single day, making this crisis impossible to ignore.
The scale of the problem
The true cost of arthritis is too big to ignore.
Dive into the data to see why this growing crisis demands an immediate national response.
“For decades, the research community has understood that arthritis places an enormous strain on both individuals and our healthcare system, but we have never had the tools to fully quantify the true scope of that burden. This analysis changes that. For the first time, we are capturing not just the economic toll, but the extraordinary human cost of living with chronic pain. The findings are undeniable, arthritis is a national crisis and the data makes clear that a coordinated, urgent response is long overdue.”
THE PAIN BEHIND THE DATA
Behind every dollar of that $142 billion burden is a life interrupted. It’s the morning a parent can’t lift their child. The career cut short. The hobby abandoned. The family gathering missed. Arthritis doesn’t just cost Canada economically, it steals time, independence and joy from millions of people who deserve better. This is what a national crisis looks like when it’s measured not just in dollars, but in moments lost forever.
You can take the first step to building a pain free future.
UNPACKING THE TRUE COST
Most traditional healthcare reports only measure what happens at the doctor's office or the pharmacy. But we know that doesn't capture the daily reality of this disease. This world-first report reveals the true cost through two evaluations:
$46 Billion Economic Toll
This measures the financial toll that is more easily tracked, from direct healthcare spending, out-of-pocket expenses for private treatments, and the massive hit to workforce productivity when people are forced to take sick leave or retire early. It's not a personal problem; it's a national economic emergency.
$96 Billion Social Value Loss
For the first time, researchers calculated the dollar-equivalent of what this means in people's daily lives. It measures the devastating toll of living in chronic pain, the loss of personal independence and the heartbreaking decline in overall life satisfaction. It measures the moments, not just the bottom line.
Across the country, this burden is escalating. See how the economic and social costs break down in your community today and what they are projected to look like by 2055.
*(Tap chart to view full size)*
WHAT THE BURDEN FEELS LIKE
The true cost of arthritis isn’t just financial. It is measured in the pain people endure, the futures they are forced to rewrite and the careers they have had to leave behind.
An unequal burden on women
Arthritis is an under-recognized women’s health crisis. Women account for 60 per cent of all joint replacement surgeries and often report higher rates of pain, fatigue, stress and mental health challenges. Yet, their pain is frequently dismissed.
The reality of arthritis and work
Arthritis doesn’t just hurt, it derails careers. In 2025 alone, lost productivity, missed work and early retirements drove $25.2 billion in economic losses. It is a crushing reality for millions trying to simply maintain their livelihoods.
The loss of independence
Arthritis takes more than mobility; it steals the freedom to plan for tomorrow. This loss of independence and reduced quality of life drives a staggering $96.5B in social value loss today, a hidden burden projected to reach $151.1B by 2055.
A NATIONAL CRISIS WE CAN NO LONGER IGNORE
At $142 billion, the true cost of arthritis is equivalent to nearly 5 per cent of Canada’s GDP and more than a quarter of the federal budget. This is not just a healthcare problem; it is an economic and societal emergency. The time for action is now.
HELP CREATE A FUTURE WITH LESS PAIN AND MORE POSSIBILITY
The science is clear. The human cost is real. Now it’s time to act, and your support has never mattered more.
Right now, your gift can be matched 3X. Thanks to a generous donor, every gift until September 30 will be tripled to support our nationwide strategy to revolutionize health outcomes and quality of life for people with arthritis.
