Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: To provide an updated overview of the epidemiological and economic burden of diabetes in the Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) and to describe associated complications and access-to-care gaps.
METHODS: A descriptive comparative analysis was conducted using secondary data from sources with established methodology, including the 2025 International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas, Global Burden of Disease estimates, national surveys, and published epidemiological and cost-of-illness studies for Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.
RESULTS: In 2024, 9.1 million adults in the Maghreb had diabetes: 4.8 million in Algeria, 2.9 million in Morocco, and 1.4 million in Tunisia, with 31.7% of cases undiagnosed in each country. The prevalence of diabetes in adults in these countries increased from 6.7% in 2011 to 14.7% in 2024 (~2.2 times in 13 years). This number is projected to increase to 14.1 million by 2050. The age-standardized prevalence was 17.5% in Algeria, 11.9% in Morocco, and 16.0% in Tunisia, respectively. Diabetes is responsible for 10-16% of deaths among adults aged 20-79 years, resulting in 20,642 deaths in Algeria, 16,235 in Morocco, and 6,390 in Tunisia. The diabetes-related health expenditure per person was US$653 in Algeria, US$454 in Morocco, and US$536 in Tunisia, with national spending of US$0.75, 1.31, and 3.11 billion in Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria, respectively. These expenditures represented 0.8%, 1.2%, and 1.4% of GDP in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, highlighting the macroeconomic impact. Microvascular and macrovascular complications, including retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, and foot lesions, drive hospitalizations, disabilities, and productivity losses in Maghreb. Data indicate that despite high insurance coverage, diabetes care access varies in the region, with urban-rural and socioeconomic gaps.
CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes imposes a major health and economic burden on Maghreb countries. Strengthening early detection, therapeutic education, and equitable access to novel therapies is essential to reduce complications and economic impact on patients and health systems.