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Hepatitis C is fairly common. But a lot of people don't know they have it. So, it's hard to say exactly how many people are living with hepatitis C.

Experts think almost 4 million people in the United States are infected with hepatitis C. That's slightly more than 1 in 100 people.¹ It seems to be more common than average among African-Americans. Slightly more than 6 in 100 African-Americans have hepatitis C.¹

Almost 3 million people in the United States have had hepatitis C for more than six months.^{1 2} Doctors call this chronic hepatitis C.

In some parts of the world, hepatitis C is much more common. Doctors think more than 6 in 100 people in Egypt have hepatitis C.³

Young men are most likely to get hepatitis C. This is because they are most likely to inject illegal drugs and are also most likely to need blood products because they have hemophilia.⁴

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.