There are no accurate figures for the overall prevalence of neuropathic pain.

The prevalence of neuropathic pain has been estimated to be between 6% and 8%.

Painful diabetic neuropathy is estimated to affect between 16% and 26% of people with diabetes.

Prevalence estimates for post herpetic neuralgia range from 8% to 19% of people with herpes zoster when defined as pain at one month after rash onset, and 8% when defined as pain at three months after rash onset.

The development of chronic pain after surgery is also fairly common, with estimates of prevalence ranging from 10% to 50% after many common operations. This pain is severe in between 2% and 10% of these patients, and many of the clinical features closely resemble those of neuropathic pain.

References

Neuropathic pain in adults: pharmacological management in non-specialist settings (CG173). Clinical guideline NICE. 20 November 2013. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg173