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Bunions are very common, especially in women.

Bunions are more common in women than in men.¹ Less than a quarter of men have these bony bumps, compared with up to half of women.² Women may get bunions more because they wear tighter shoes. But bunions also happen in 1 in 50 people in parts of the world where shoes aren't worn.^{1 3}

Bunions are also more common in older people than in younger people.⁴ About twice as many people over the age of 60 have bunions compared with people between the ages of 30 and 60.

Bunions are less common in children. A study of schoolchildren found that about 1 in 50 children ages 9 and 10 years had problems with their toe joints that can lead to bunions.⁵ Girls were more likely to have a big toe out of line than boys.

Bunions are more common in African-Americans than in white Americans.⁶ In one study in the United States, slightly more than a third of white Americans had bunions, compared with almost half of African-Americans. But only a quarter of the people in the study from Puerto Rico had bunions. Researchers aren't sure why this is.

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.