OBJECTIVES: To provide a comprehensive overview of existing literature on inguinal, ventral, and umbilical hernias in the UK, US, France, Germany, and Italy in four independent areas: 1) epidemiology; 2) treatment guidelines and management; 3) health-related quality of life; and 4) economic burden. METHODS: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were reviewed ahead of any single studies. Studies included in the systematic reviews were not reviewed independently. Where systematic reviews were not available, the next highest level of evidence was identified. RESULTS: Seven studies examining incidence of inguinal (5), ventral (2), and umbilical hernia (0); 17 studies of HRQL in inguinal hernia repair (none in ventral or umbilical hernia repair); 4 systematic reviews and 22 costing studies of inguinal hernia repair (4 ventral hernia costing studies; none for umbilical); and 10 published guidelines on inguinal hernia repair only (none for France, Italy, or Germany) were identified. No prevalence studies were found and incidence data was limited to hernia repair procedures and recurrences versus true incidence of hernia. Open mesh repair appears most common due to safety, ease of technique, low recurrence rates and cost although laparoscopic repair has potential benefits over open mesh. Hernia repair generally leads to improved HRQL regardless of surgical technique. Mixed evidence supports LH patients having better HRQL, post-operative pain outcomes, return to work and usual daily activities profile following inguinal hernia surgery than OH patients. The inclusion of indirect costs such as absenteeism and presenteeism can significantly reduce or eliminate cost differences between laparoscopic and open repair as noted in TEP procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Although hernia repair is a common procedure, its epidemiology, treatment guidelines and management recommendations are not well referenced in the literature. Evidence based decision-making would be improved through reporting of real world, observational, longitudinal hernia repair data.