Headache disorders range from bothersome to disabling. They include migraines, tension headaches, cluster headaches, and headaches related to things like exercise or sinusitis.

Researchers estimate that every day, 15.8% of people around the world experience headaches.

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Deciding which studies to include was no small task. The scientists carefully refined their criteria, but found that many published studies of headache disorders “were deficient in their reporting” despite ongoing attempts to standardize methodologies.

The data revealed differences in headaches by criteria such as gender and geographic area. Women had more headaches than men – 57.8% versus 44.4%. While 8.6% of men reported having migraines, 17% of women had this disorder. High-income countries reported more headaches than low-income countries.

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It’s partly a matter of data collection, the researchers say. They call for more studies of headaches in low-income countries to help reveal more precise numbers.

Although the data suggests that headache prevalence may be increasing, the authors urge caution given the variance in data collection.

What they do know is that headaches are extremely common. “The prevalence of head disorders remains high around the world and the burden of different types may affect many,” says Lars Jacob Stovner, professor of neurology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology who led the research, in a Press release. “We should strive to reduce this burden through prevention and better treatment.”