OBJECTIVES: With previous estimates dating back to 1996-1997, new estimates of incidence and prevalence are needed to accurately assess the current burden of psoriasis in the UK. We examined incidence and prevalence in the UK primary care setting using data from 2008 and 2009. METHODS: THIN, an electronic database recently validated to study psoriasis in a population-based setting, was used. For incidence, newly diagnosed patients aged ≥18 were identified by a psoriasis diagnosis (“Read Code”) in medical records between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008. For prevalence, a cross-section of patients aged ≥18 on July 1, 2009 were selected who had received a psoriasis Read Code in their medical history. Total person time for 2008 and mid-year patient counts for 2009 were provided as denominators to calculate incidence and prevalence, respectively. Age and sex-specific rates were calculated and standardized to the UK 2008/2009 population, respectively. RESULTS: The standardized incidence rate of adult psoriasis in 2008 was 28 (95% CI: 28-29) per 10,000 person-years and highest in 60-69 year olds at 34 (95% CI: 31-36) per 10,000 person-years. Psoriasis prevalence at 01July2009 was 2.83% (95% CI: 2.81-2.86) and highest in 70-79 year olds at 3.49% (95% CI: 3.42-3.56). Overall, incidence did not vary by sex. However, prevalence in females under 40 was significantly higher than in males of the same age group: 2.69% (95%CI: 2.65-2.73) vs. 2.42% (95%CI: 2.37-2.44). CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of psoriasis was higher than rates previously reported in the UK. The high prevalence estimates reported in this primary care database confirm findings from other European countries and indicate that psoriasis is a condition for which medical attention is commonly sought and that psoriasis represents a significant burden on the UK healthcare system.