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By Mayo Clinic staffNarcolepsy may be more common in men than women and occurs in all racial and ethnic groups. However, rates do seem to vary by country.
In the United States, about one in 2,000 people is affected by narcolepsy, while in Israel only one in 500,000 people has the disorder. Japan has the highest rate, affecting about one in 600 people.
The condition may run in families. A small percentage of people with narcolepsy have a close relative with the disease.