Migraine and headache in children and adolescents: A 2026 evidence-based factsheet
Derya Uludüz, Ishaq Abu-Arafeh, Serena Laura Orr, Nazia Karsan, Vanda Faria, Nana Nino Tatishvili, Marco Lisicki, Toshiyuki Hikita, Hamit Genç, Aynur ÖzgeBackground
Headache disorders, particularly migraine, are among the leading causes of disability worldwide, with onset frequently occurring during childhood and adolescence. Despite their high prevalence and substantial functional impact, paediatric headache disorders remain under-recognised within health systems and under-represented in global policy frameworks.
Methods
This factsheet was developed to provide a comprehensive, developmentally informed overview of the global burden of headache disorders in children and adolescents. It synthesises evidence from population-based studies, systematic reviews, clinical cohorts, and Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 estimates. Key domains include epidemiology, disability burden, functional and psychosocial impacts, risk factors and triggers, diagnostic and treatment gaps, and current management strategies, with particular attention to disparities across sociodemographic groups.
Results
According to GBD 2023 point-prevalence estimates, headache disorders increase markedly across development, from 10.71% among children aged 5–9 years to 42.64% among adolescents aged 15–19 years. Corresponding migraine prevalence estimates increase from 2.79% to 18.08%. GBD 2023 data also indicate that migraine is among the leading causes of years lived with disability from early life onwards.Migraine in children and adolescents is associated with substantial impairment in school attendance, academic performance, social participation, and quality of life. It is also frequently accompanied by psychiatric and somatic comorbidities. Access to timely diagnosis and evidence-based treatment remains highly inequitable, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Emerging evidence suggests that adolescence may represent a critical window for intervention, with the potential to reduce progression to chronic migraine and long-term disability.
Conclusions
Migraine and other headache disorders in children and adolescents constitute a major global public health challenge. This factsheet provides a comprehensive, evidence-based summary of their burden and highlights urgent priorities for policy integration, advocacy, and research. Early, equitable, and developmentally tailored care is essential to reduce lifelong disability and improve global brain health outcomes.