OBJECTIVES: To assess global, regional, and national burdens and trends of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: Data from the Global Burden of disease Study 2021(GBD 2021) were used. The primary measurement were prevalent cases, years lived with disability (YLDs), age-standardised prevalence rate (ASPR) and age-standardised YLDs rate (ASYR), categorized by age and sociodemographic index (SDI). Trend analysis was measured by calculating average annual percentage change (AAPC) of ASPR and ASYR. RESULTS: Globally, the prevalent AMD cases increased to 8,057,520.459 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 6,705,283.83 to 9,823,237.34) in 2021, with associated YLDs rising to 577,984.5004 (95% UI, 401,188.20 to 797,657.63). AMD burdens varied across regions and countries, as well as level of SDI development. China, India, and the United States of America (USA) were the top three countries with AMD cases. Caribbean regions have significant lower ASPR and ASYR of AMD. The AMD burden peaked between ages 65-69. Females had a significantly higher burden of AMD compared to males. From 1990 to 2021, the global ASPR and ASYR showed downward trend (AAPC = -0.15, 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.19 to -0.12, P < 0.001; AAPC = -0.69, 95% CI, -0.71 to -0.67, P < 0.001) respectively. The USA is the only developed country showed decreasing AAPCs of ASPR and ASYR from 1990 to 2021 but increasing AAPCs of ASPR and ASYR from 2012 to 2021. CONCLUSIONS: AMD burdens increased over 30 years, varying by age, sex, and SDI, guiding global strategies and public health interventions.