Gastroenterol Res

Gastroenterology Research, ISSN 1918-2805 print, 1918-2813 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, Gastroenterol Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://gr.elmerpub.com

Original Article

Volume 18, Number 6, December 2025, pages 308-321

Global Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Figure 2. Forest plot of the meta-analysis of the prevalence of IBS - Rome III. IBS: irritable bowel syndrome.

Figure 3. Forest plot of the meta-analysis of the prevalence of IBS - Rome IV. IBS: irritable bowel syndrome.

Figure 4. Global distribution of IBS prevalence according to Rome III criteria, stratified by sex. IBS: irritable bowel syndrome.

Figure 5. Global distribution of IBS prevalence according to Rome IV criteria, stratified by sex. IBS: irritable bowel syndrome.

Figure 6. Meta-regression of the prevalence of IBS according to Rome III (a) and IV (b) criteria by year of publication. IBS: irritable bowel syndrome.

**Table 1.** Sensitivity Analysis of IBS Prevalence Stratified by Sampling
Classification	Sampling	Number of studies	Prevalence	95% CI	I²
CI: confidence interval; IBS: irritable bowel syndrome.
Rome III	Probabilistic	14	11.19	8.55 - 14.12	99%
	No probabilistic	12	15.51	11.13 - 20.75	99%
Rome IV	Probabilistic	9	13.28	8.36 - 19.13	99.8
	No probabilistic	8	21.91	13.27 - 32.14	99%

Table 1. Sensitivity Analysis of IBS Prevalence Stratified by Sampling

Classification

Sampling

Number of studies

Prevalence

95% CI

I²

CI: confidence interval; IBS: irritable bowel syndrome.

Rome III

Probabilistic

11.19

8.55 - 14.12

99%

No probabilistic

15.51

11.13 - 20.75

99%

Rome IV

Probabilistic

13.28

8.36 - 19.13

99.8

No probabilistic

21.91

13.27 - 32.14

99%

**Table 2.** Global IBS Prevalence According to Rome III and IV Criteria: Analysis by Region or Country
Classification	Country/region	Number of studies	Prevalence	95% CI	I²
CI: confidence interval; IBS: irritable bowel syndrome.
Roma III	Japan	5	12.16	10.56 - 13.85	93.5%
	Colombia	1	19.89	16.68 - 23.31
	Hong Kong	1	5.44	4.48 - 6.47
	South Korea	1	9.02	7.33 - 10.87
	India	3	3.3	2.46 - 4.26	78.7%
	Peru	1	15	10.36 - 20.31
	Malasya	1	10.86	7.07 - 15.33
	Taiwan	1	4.4	3.80 - 5.03
	Romania	1	19.17	13.90 - 25.05
	Iran	1	21.71	20.55 - 22.89
	Chile	1	28.6	24.46 - 32.94
	Denmark	1	16.02	15.11 - 16.95
	Lebanon	2	20.06	17.97 - 22.23	0%
	Germany	1	16.58	15.12 - 18.09
	Singapore	1	20.88	16.43 - 25.69
	Pakistan	2	29.42	22.50 - 36.85	93%
	Bangladesh	1	7.2	6.37 - 8.08
	China	1	8.43	7.86 - 9.02
Roma IV	Saudi Arabia	7	18.38	11.07 - 27.05	99.10%
	Belgium	1	5.53	4.20 - 7.03
	USA/Canada/UK	1	4.59	4.07 - 5.13
	Poland	1	11.41	8.35 - 14.88
	Gibraltar	1	5.18	3.81 - 6.74
	Turkey	1	24.23	20.52 - 28.14
	Lebanon	1	43.29	38.61 - 48.04
	United States	1	6.11	5.95 - 6.27
	Jordan	1	41.75	38.77 - 44.76
	Uruguay	1	17.11	14.89 - 19.45
	Bahrain	1	25.08	21.75 - 28.57

Table 2. Global IBS Prevalence According to Rome III and IV Criteria: Analysis by Region or Country

Classification

Country/region

Number of studies

Prevalence

95% CI

I²

CI: confidence interval; IBS: irritable bowel syndrome.

Roma III

Japan

12.16

10.56 - 13.85

93.5%

Colombia

19.89

16.68 - 23.31

Hong Kong

5.44

4.48 - 6.47

South Korea

9.02

7.33 - 10.87

India

3.3

2.46 - 4.26

78.7%

Peru

10.36 - 20.31

Malasya

10.86

7.07 - 15.33

Taiwan

4.4

3.80 - 5.03

Romania

19.17

13.90 - 25.05

Iran

21.71

20.55 - 22.89

Chile

28.6

24.46 - 32.94

Denmark

16.02

15.11 - 16.95

Lebanon

20.06

17.97 - 22.23

Germany

16.58

15.12 - 18.09

Singapore

20.88

16.43 - 25.69

Pakistan

29.42

22.50 - 36.85

93%

Bangladesh

7.2

6.37 - 8.08

China

8.43

7.86 - 9.02

Roma IV

Saudi Arabia

18.38

11.07 - 27.05

99.10%

Belgium

5.53

4.20 - 7.03

USA/Canada/UK

4.59

4.07 - 5.13

Poland

11.41

8.35 - 14.88

Gibraltar

5.18

3.81 - 6.74

Turkey

24.23

20.52 - 28.14

Lebanon

43.29

38.61 - 48.04

United States

6.11

5.95 - 6.27

Jordan

41.75

38.77 - 44.76

Uruguay

17.11

14.89 - 19.45

Bahrain

25.08

21.75 - 28.57

**Table 3.** Sensitivity Analysis of IBS Prevalence Stratified by Sex
Classification	Sex	Number of studies	Prevalence	95% CI	I²
CI: confidence interval; IBS: irritable bowel syndrome.
Rome III	Female	26	15.69	12.29 - 19.41	98.9%
	Male	26	11.10	8.89 - 13.52	98.0%
Rome IV	Female	17	20.17	14.48 - 26.54	99.2%
	Male	17	11.45	7.39 - 16.29	98.9%

Table 3. Sensitivity Analysis of IBS Prevalence Stratified by Sex

Classification

Sex

Number of studies

Prevalence

95% CI

I²

CI: confidence interval; IBS: irritable bowel syndrome.

Rome III

Female

15.69

12.29 - 19.41

98.9%

Male

11.10

8.89 - 13.52

98.0%

Rome IV

Female

20.17

14.48 - 26.54

99.2%

Male

11.45

7.39 - 16.29

98.9%