This article focuses on the epidemiological profile of chronic kidney disease. The definition and classification of the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI), published in 2002, has increased the standardization of disease severity. Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in the United States shows an increase in prevalence over time. Overall, the risk of death from chronic kidney disease is much higher than the risk of progression to end-stage kidney disease. The prevalence of kidney disease in the 3rd to 5th stage of Taiwan is about 10%. Chronic kidney disease is also a worldwide public health problem. By 2015, there were about 700,000 patients with end-stage renal disease. Chronic kidney disease relies heavily on laboratory data in clinical diagnosis, and is a major problem in low-and middle-income countries.