In short
Very common. About 1 in 3 adults worldwide has fatty liver. In the Middle East it is closer to 4 in 10, and about 7 in 10 people with type 2 diabetes.
A large review of studies from around the world found fatty liver in about a third of adults.
Rates are high in the Middle East and North Africa, where obesity and type 2 diabetes are common. A 2024 study estimated fatty liver in about 39% of the general population there, and in about 69% of people with type 2 diabetes.
In Saudi Arabia, the Global Burden of Disease data suggest that about 44% of adults had fatty liver in 2019, and the number is rising every year.
Being common does not mean it is harmless. Only some people develop serious scarring, and finding them early is the goal.
Related questions
Sources
- Riazi K, et al. The prevalence and incidence of NAFLD worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022;7:851–61. Link
- Younossi ZM, et al. Prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in the Middle East and North Africa. Liver Int 2024;44(4):1061–70. Link
- Alqahtani SA, et al. The burden of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and viral hepatitis in Saudi Arabia. Saudi J Gastroenterol 2024;30(5):310–8. Link
- Abaalkhail F, et al. MASLD management in Saudi Arabia: a modified Delphi-based adaptation of international standards. Saudi J Gastroenterol 2026;32(2):104–20. Link
Last updated 2026-10-03. Based on international and Saudi guidelines. Education only: it does not replace your doctor. Read the disclaimer.