BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has been described as a chronic allergen/immune-mediated disease characterized by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction and eosinophilic infiltration of the mucosa. SUMMARY: Over the past decades, EoE has been increasingly recognized in various geographical areas with a high socioeconomic development (mostly industrialized countries) and has evolved from an unknown to a clinically distinct disease with increasing prevalence and incidence. An average age at diagnosis between 30 and 50 years and a male predominance have been consistently observed. In both children and adults, EoE is clearly associated with allergies, predominantly food - but also aeroallergens. Most EoE patients present with a personal allergic background such as asthma, rhino-conjunctivitis, and oral allergy syndrome. KEY MESSAGE: Knowledge of epidemiological characteristics is crucial for identifying risk factors and understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms.