Knee market is anticipated to grow from US$ 14.08 billion in 2024 to US$ 19.82 billion by 2031; the market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.09% from 2025 to 2031. The knee implant market growth is attributed to the aging population and technological advancements.
Knee implants are medical devices used to replace damaged or worn-out parts of the knee joint, typically in patients with severe arthritis or injury. Made from metal alloys, ceramics, and high-grade plastics, these implants restore mobility, reduce pain, and improve joint function. During knee replacement surgery, the damaged bone and cartilage are removed and replaced with artificial components. Knee implants can be total or partial, depending on the extent of joint damage and the patient's specific condition.
Demographic change and the rising prevalence of obesity together contribute to increased incidence and early onset of knee degeneration. In the UK, the NJR 2024 Report showed that patients undergoing primary knee replacement had a mean age of 69.3 years, with 55% female, and an average BMI of 30.8 in 2023. The female predominance and the high average BMI reflect known risk factors. In the US, recent data from the CDC (2021-2023) indicate obesity prevalence among adults at 40.3%, with severe obesity (BMI ?40) at 9.4%. These high levels of obesity increase mechanical stress on knee joints, accelerate cartilage wear, and contribute to a higher prevalence of joint pain/dysfunction and to faster progression of degenerative disease. Older age adds further burden from declining cartilage repair and lower resilience to joint injury. Such a demographic would either require or opt for knee arthroplasty. As high BMI and older age are also associated with increased risk of complications and revisions, manufacturers need to produce implants with better longevity, more forgiving fixation, and designs suited for higher loads. Thus, demographic trends and obesity lead to a higher demand from patients requiring surgery as well as greater technical requirements.
Globally, according to the World Health Organization, about 528 million people were living with osteoarthritis in 2019; among these, approximately 365 million had knee OA. These numbers have been increasing over the decades, owing to aging populations, injuries, and obesity. In the UK, the National Joint Registry (NJR) 2024 Annual Report noted that there were 116,845 primary knee replacements in 2023, with a mean patient age of 69.3 years. These statistics revealed that OA is not only common but also an overwhelmingly dominant clinical reason for knee arthroplasty. Moreover, OA prevalence tends to increase sharply with age and with higher BMI, so as demographic shifts continue, the pool of patients requiring surgical intervention grows. Thus, as more patients progress to late-stage OA-and conservative therapies become insufficient-demand for knee implants rises in tandem. The consistent documentation in joint registries and national health data underscores that OA is widespread and drives demand for knee replacement devices.
Adoption of Cement-Sensitive Implant Alternatives to Provide Market Opportunities in Future
Increasing regulatory approvals for cementless implants and those tailored for patients with sensitivities to metals or bone cement are unlocking new opportunities in the knee implant market. According to official FDA data, in December 2024, Zimmer Biomet received 510(k) clearance for its Persona SoluTion PPS Femur, a total knee implant component designed for cementless fixation and reduced exposure to common metal sensitizers, such as nickel, cobalt, and chromium. Similarly, Zimmer Biomet also gained FDA Premarket Approval (PMA) in November 2024 for its Oxford Cementless Partial Knee, making it the only cementless partial knee replacement that has FDA approval in the US. These product innovations address concerns about implant longevity, immune reactions, and revision surgery. The addressable patient pool can expand with increasing aging populations, who may have compromised bone quality or metal sensitivities. Furthermore, long-term outcomes in registries support strong survival rates: e.g., the Oxford Cementless Partial Knee shows ~94.1% survival at 10 years in UK National Joint Registry data, higher than many cemented counterparts. Thus, manufacturers who invest in materials science, surface engineering, and implant design for cementless fixation or metal-agnostic materials are likely to gain a competitive advantage as demand for these types of implants increases.
World Health Organization (WHO), UK Parliament, Government of UK, UK's National Joint Registry (NJR), National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Statistics Canada, Mexican Ministry of Health, French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), National Health Service (NHS) Digital, Italian Ministry of Health, Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE), Global Burden of Disease, Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey, Saudi Ministry of Health, South African Family Practice Journal (SAFPJ), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Brazilian Ministry of Health are among the primary and secondary sources referred to while preparing the knee implant market report.