OBJECTIVES: Crohn’s Disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disorder characterised by recurrent chronic uncontrolled inflammation on the intestinal mucosa affecting any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Although most people with CD lead active lives, five years after onset 15% to 20% of patients are disabled by their disease to some degree. The purpose of the current review was to evaluate recent data from the literature on the economic burden of CD in European countries in adults and in children, using US data as a benchmark. METHODS: A systematic review of the data on economic and humanistic burden for adults and children in Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain and the US was performed covering the period 2000 to 2012. The methods followed recommendations and guidance published by the Centre for Reviews & Dissemination, York, UK. RESULTS: Of the 425 publications identified on the economic burden of CD, 92 were suitable for further evaluation, and 39 were selected. Among these studies, five presented total costs of CD management in adults, ranging from €1,425 to €15,521 per patient depending on the country. Most of the direct costs were due to hospitalisations, surgeries or use of biologic drugs. Patients with severe disease and those requiring hospitalisation had disproportionately higher costs (5.6 times higher) compared to those with milder disease. Direct costs were more important for relapsing disease than quiescent disease. Only one European study focused on children using biologic drugs as maintenance treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Research on the economic burden of CD management has been mainly published on adults in the US and UK, with limited data from Germany, Spain and Italy. Similar data for paediatric CD is almost non-existent. More research is needed to better understand the economic and humanistic burden faced by paediatric CD patients in Europe.