NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 280 ■ April 2017

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Prevalence of HPV in Adults Aged 18–69: 

United States, 2011–2014 

Geraldine McQuillan, Ph.D., Deanna Kruszon-Moran, M.S., Lauri E. Markowitz, M.D., 

Elizabeth R. Unger, M.D., Ph.D., and Ryne Paulose-Ram, Ph.D., M.A. 

Key findings

Data from the National 

Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey

● During 2011–2014, 

prevalence of any oral human 

papillomavirus (HPV) for 

adults aged 18–69 was 7.3%; 

high-risk HPV was 4.0%. 

● Overall, prevalence of any 

and high-risk oral HPV was 

lowest among non-Hispanic 

Asian adults; any oral HPV was 

highest among non-Hispanic 

black adults.

● Prevalence of any and 

high-risk oral HPV was higher 

in men than women except for 

high-risk HPV among Asian 

adults. 

● During 2013–2014, 

prevalence of any and high-risk 

genital HPV for adults aged 

18–59 was 45.2% and 25.1% in 

men and 39.9% and 20.4% in 

women, respectively. 

● Prevalence of any and 

high-risk genital HPV was 

lower among non-Hispanic 

Asian and higher among 

non-Hispanic black than 

both non-Hispanic white and 

Hispanic men and women. 

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted 

infection in the United States (1). Some HPV types can cause genital warts 

and are considered low risk, with a small chance for causing cancer. Other 

types are considered high risk, causing cancer in different areas of the body 

including the cervix and vagina in women, penis in men, and anus and 

oropharynx in both men and women (2). This report provides the most recent 

national estimates of oral HPV prevalence among adults aged 18–69 from the 

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014, as 

well as prevalence of genital HPV among adults aged 18–59 from NHANES 

2013–2014. Estimates of any HPV (37 types tested) as well as high-risk HPV 

(14 of the 37 types) are provided.

Keywords: human papillomavirus • NHANES

Prevalence of any oral HPV was lowest among non-Hispanic 

Asian adults and highest among non-Hispanic black adults. 

Figure 1. Prevalence of any oral HPV among adults aged 18–69, by race and Hispanic origin and 

sex: United States, 2011–2014

1

Percentage for men is significantly different from women. 

2

Percentage is significantly different from non-Hispanic Asian adults, all, men, and women. 

3

Percentage is significantly different from non-Hispanic white adults, all and men. 

4

Percentage is significantly different from non-Hispanic black adults, all and men. 

NOTES: HPV is human papillomavirus. Any oral HPV means tested positive to one or more of the 37 HPV types from an oral rinse 

sample. Access data table for Figure 1 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db280_table.pdf#1. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014.

 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 280 ■ April 2017

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● During 2011–2014, prevalence of any oral HPV was 7.3% among adults aged 18–69, 11.5% 

among men and 3.3% among women (Figure 1).

● Prevalence of any oral HPV was lower among non-Hispanic Asian adults (2.9%) and higher 

among non-Hispanic black adults (9.7%) compared with both non-Hispanic white (7.3%) 

and Hispanic adults (7.0%). For men, there was a similar racial and ethnic pattern. 

● Prevalence of any oral HPV was lowest among non-Hispanic Asian women. No significant 

difference in prevalence was seen among non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and 

Hispanic women. 

● Men had a higher prevalence of oral HPV than women, overall and within each race and 

Hispanic group.

Prevalence of high-risk oral HPV was lower among non-Hispanic Asian 

adults compared with other race and Hispanic groups.

● During 2011–2014, prevalence of high-risk oral HPV was 4.0% among adults aged 18–69, 

6.8% among men and 1.2% among women (Figure 2).

● Prevalence was lower among non-Hispanic Asian adults, overall (1.7%) and among men 

(2.3%), than non-Hispanic white (4.2% all, 7.3% men), non-Hispanic black (4.3% all, 7.5% 

men), and Hispanic (3.4% all, 5.4% men) adults.

Figure 2. Prevalence of high-risk oral HPV among adults aged 18–69, by race and Hispanic origin and sex: 

United States, 2011–2014

1

Percentage of men is significantly different from women. 

2

Percentage estimate for non-Hispanic Asian women may be unreliable because it is based on 6 positive samples and has a relative standard error greater than 

30% but less than 40%.

3

Percentage is significantly different from non-Hispanic Asian adults, all and men. 

NOTES: HPV is human papillomavirus. High-risk oral HPV means tested positive to one or more of the 14 high-risk HPV types (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 

56, 58, 59, 66, or 68) from an oral rinse sample. Access data table for Figure 2 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db280_table.pdf#2. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014.

 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 280 ■ April 2017

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● No differences were seen in prevalence of high-risk oral HPV by race and Hispanic group 

among women (1.1%–1.7%).

● Prevalence of high-risk oral HPV was higher among men than women in all race and 

Hispanic groups, although the difference was not significant among non-Hispanic Asian 

adults.

Prevalence of any genital HPV was lowest among non-Hispanic Asian 

adults and highest among non-Hispanic black adults.

● During 2013–2014, prevalence of any genital HPV was 42.5% among adults aged 18–59, 

45.2% among men and 39.9% among women (Figure 3).

● Overall, and for both men and women, prevalence of any genital HPV was lowest among 

non-Hispanic Asian adults and highest among non-Hispanic black adults, with no significant 

difference in prevalence between non-Hispanic white and Hispanic adults. 

● Prevalence of any genital HPV was higher among men than women overall and among 

non-Hispanic white adults. The pattern was similar for Hispanic adults, but the difference 

between men and women was not statistically significant. 

Figure 3. Prevalence of any genital HPV among adults aged 18–59, by race and Hispanic origin and sex: 

United States, 2013–2014 

1

Percentage for men is significantly higher than women. 

2

Percentage is significantly different from non-Hispanic Asian, all, men, and women. 

3

Percentage is significantly different from non-Hispanic white, all, men, and women. 

4

Percentage is significantly different from non-Hispanic black, all, men, and women. 

NOTES: HPV is human papillomavirus. Any genital HPV means tested positive to one or more of the 37 HPV types from a penile or vaginal swab sample. Penile 

samples were available only for 2013–2104, so results presented were limited to that cycle. Access data table for Figure 3 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db280_table.pdf#3. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013–2014.

 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 280 ■ April 2017

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Prevalence of high-risk genital HPV was lowest among non-Hispanic Asian 

adults and highest among non-Hispanic black adults.

● During 2013–2014, the prevalence of high-risk HPV was 22.7% among adults aged 18–59, 

25.1% among men and 20.4% among women (Figure 4).

● Overall, and for both men and women, prevalence of high-risk genital HPV was lowest 

among non-Hispanic Asian adults and highest among non-Hispanic black adults, with no 

significant difference in prevalence between non-Hispanic white and Hispanic adults. 

● Prevalence of any genital HPV was higher among men than women overall and among 

non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black adults.

Figure 4. Prevalence of high-risk genital HPV among adults aged 18–59, by race and Hispanic origin and sex: 

United States, 2013–2014

1

Percentage for men is significantly higher than women.

2

Percentage is significantly different from non-Hispanic Asian, all, men, and women. 

3

Percentage is significantly different from non-Hispanic white, all, men, and women. 

4

Percentage is significantly different from non-Hispanic black, all, men, and women. 

NOTES: HPV is human papillomavirus. High-risk genital HPV means tested positive to one or more of the 14 high-risk HPV types (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 

52, 56, 58, 59, 66, or 68) from a penile or vaginal swab sample. Penile samples were available only for 2013–2014, so all results presented were limited to that 

cycle. Access data table for Figure 4 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db280_table.pdf#4. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013–2014.

 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 280 ■ April 2017

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Summary 

During 2011–2014, prevalence of any oral HPV among adults aged 18–69 was 7.3% and 

high-risk oral HPV was 4.0%. Prevalence of any and high-risk oral HPV was lowest among 

non-Hispanic Asian adults and any oral HPV was highest among non-Hispanic black adults. 

Prevalence of high-risk oral HPV was significantly higher in men than women in every race and 

Hispanic group except non-Hispanic Asian adults. The higher prevalence in men than women was 

also reported in a previous NHANES study, 2009–2010 (3). 

During 2013–2014, any genital HPV prevalence among adults aged 18–59, was 42.5% in the total 

population, 45.2% among men and 39.9% among women; high-risk genital HPV prevalence was 

22.7% in the total population, 25.1% among men and 20.4% among women. Non-Hispanic Asian 

adults had the lowest prevalence of any and high-risk genital HPV among the total population as 

well as among men and women. In contrast, non-Hispanic black adults had the highest prevalence 

of any and high-risk genital HPV among the total population and among men and women. 

Prevalence was also higher among men than women for both any and high-risk genital HPV in 

the total population and among non-Hispanic white adults.

This report provides the latest estimates of HPV prevalence, examining both oral and genital 

sites, by sex and race and Hispanic group. NHANES does not include populations that may be 

considered at higher risk for HPV (i.e., those institutionalized, incarcerated, in nonhospital-based 

long-term care facilities, injection-drug using, and homeless, among others). Therefore, these data 

provide conservative estimates of both oral and genital HPV among U.S. adults. Other 

recent reports of HPV prevalence from NHANES have examined the impact of the U.S. HPV 

vaccination program on HPV prevalence among women (4) and the first data on HPV prevalence 

among men (5). 

Definitions

Any oral HPV: Oral rinse sample tested positive to one or more of the 37 HPV types listed under 

“All HPV types.”

High-risk oral HPV: Oral rinse sample tested positive to one or more of 14 high-risk HPV types 

(see definition) out of the 37 HPV types.

Any genital HPV in women: Vaginal swab sample tested positive to one or more of the 37 HPV 

types listed under “All HPV types.” 

High-risk genital HPV in women: Vaginal swab sample tested positive to one or more of the 14 

high-risk HPV types (see definition) out of the 37 HPV types. 

Any genital HPV in men: Penile swab sample tested positive to one or more of the 37 HPV types 

listed under “All HPV types.” 

High-risk genital HPV in men: Penile swab sample tested positive to one or more of the 14 highrisk HPV types (see definition) out of the 37 HPV types.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 280 ■ April 2017

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All HPV types (includes types detected by L1 consensus polymerase chain reaction): 6, 11, 16, 

18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 40, 42, 45, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 

72, 73, 81, 82, 83, 84, 89, or IS39.

High-risk HPV types: 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, or 68.

Data source and methods

Data from NHANES 2011–2014 were used for these analyses. NHANES is a cross-sectional 

survey designed to monitor the health and nutritional status of the civilian noninstitutionalized 

U.S. population. The survey consists of interviews conducted in participants’ homes followed by 

standardized physical examinations that include collections of various biological specimens for 

laboratory tests. 

NHANES is based on a complex, multistage design with data released in two-year cycles. The 

design includes oversampling and the ability to combine cycles to obtain reliable estimates for 

population subgroups. Starting with the 2011–2012 survey cycle, non-Hispanic Asian persons 

were oversampled to obtain more reliable estimates of health on this racial and ethnic group. Oral 

HPV data were available for adults aged 18–69 during NHANES 2011–2014. Genital HPV data 

were available for women aged 18–59 during 2011–2014 but among men only during

2013–2014. For consistency, only genital data from 2013–2014 are presented for both men and 

women. Additional information about NHANES can be found on its website: https://www.cdc.

gov/nchs/nhanes/.

Prevalence estimates and standard errors were calculated in SAS-callable SUDAAN software 

version 11.0 (RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C). The examination sample weights 

were used to account for differing probabilities of selection, nonresponse, and noncoverage. 

Taylor series linearization was used to calculate standard errors to take into account the complex 

sampling design. Differences between groups were evaluated using a Student’s t statistic at the 

p < 0.05 significance level. Estimates with a relative standard error greater than 30% or based 

on less than 10 positives were designated as potentially unreliable and should be interpreted 

with caution. All differences discussed were statistically significant unless otherwise indicated. 

Calculated estimates were not age-adjusted, and no adjustments were made for multiple 

comparisons.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 280 ■ April 2017

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About the authors

Geraldine McQuillan, Deanna Kruszon-Moran, and Ryne Paulose-Ram are with the National 

Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Lauri E. 

Markowitz is with the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division 

of Viral Diseases. Elizabeth R. Unger is with the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic 

Infectious Diseases, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology. 

References

1. Satterwhite CL, Torrone E, Meites E, Dunne EF, Mahajan R, Ocfemia MC, et al. Sexually 

transmitted infections among US women and men: Prevalence and incidence estimates, 2008. Sex 

Transm Dis 40(3):187–93. 2013.

2. Viens LJ, Henley SJ, Watson M, et al. Human papillomavirus-associated cancers—

United States, 2008–2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 65(26):661–6. 2016.

3. Gillison ML, Broutian T, Pickard RK, Tong ZY, Xiao W, Kahle L, et al. Prevalence of oral 

HPV infection in the United States, 2009–2010. JAMA 307(7):693–703. 2012.

4. Markowitz LE, Liu G, Hariri S, Steinau M, Dunne EF, Unger ER. Prevalence of HPV after 

introduction of the vaccination program in the United States. Pediatrics 137(3): 2016.

5. Gargano JW, Unger ER, Liu G, Steinau M, Meites E, Dunne E, Markowitz LE. Prevalence of 

genital human papillomavirus in males, United States, 2013–2014. J Infect Dis. 2017.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 280 ■ April 2017

Suggested citation

McQuillan G, Kruszon-Moran D, 

Markowitz LE, Unger ER., Paulose-Ram R. 

Prevalence of HPV in adults aged 18–69: 

United States, 2011–2014. NCHS data brief, 

no 280. Hyattsville, MD: National Center 

for Health Statistics. 2017.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition 

Examination Surveys

Kathryn S. Porter, M.D., M.S., Director

Ryne Paulose-Ram, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science 

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