It is not known how many people develop long COVID. However, it is likely less than one in 20 people.
There are many things that can change a person's risk of getting long COVID:
Vaccination – it is less likely that a vaccinated person will develop long COVID.
The variant of COVID-19 – different variants of COVID-19 can affect a person's chances of getting long COVID. For example, the Omicron variant is less likely to result in long COVID than the Delta variant.
Your age and sex – younger people and males are less likely to develop long COVID.
Underlying health conditions – people with certain pre-existing conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and asthma, are more likely to develop long COVID.