Global number of pacemakers in 2016 and 2023

The number of pacemakers globally is expected to increase significantly between 2016 and 2023. Pacemakers are an essential live-saving implantable device for individuals living with certain heart conditions. As of 2016, it was estimated that there were about 1.14 million pacemakers globally. By the year 2023 that number is expected to increase to 1.43 million units.

Pacemakers saving lives

Pacemakers are an implantable medical device that use electrical pulses to regulate the heart. These devices are an important and live-saving measure for people with certain cardiac conditions. Conditions that require the use of a pacemaker include arrhythmia, congenital heart disease and deterioration of the heart muscle from age. Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. A significant proportion of the population in developed countries suffers from heart disease but it is known that heart diseases are becoming more common in middle- and low-income countries as well.

The global cardiac device market

The pacemaker market has experienced significant growth in recent years and that growth is expected to continue in the future. However, access to pacemakers globally is variable. The largest regional share of the global medical device industry sales is attributable to the United States, Germany, and Japan. As for many implantable cardiac devices, affordability is a major concern among patients globally.