Global epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection: New estimates of age-specific HBsAg seroprevalence and endemicity

► Systematic review of global hepatitis B prevalence and modeling of data. ► HBsAg-positive persons increased from 223 million in 1990 to 240 million in 2005. ► HBsAg prevalence varied geographically with highest endemicity in sub-Saharan Africa. ► HBsAg prevalence decreased overall but global differences exist. ► Demographic changes call for targeted hepatitis B prevention.