TORONTO — Chronic pain is often associated with getting older, but new figures indicate that about 10 per cent of those aged 12 to 44 also experience extreme aches and discomfort.

Figures from Statistics Canada released Wednesday show that nine per cent of males in this age group and 12 per cent of females reported chronic pain in 2007-2008.

The prevalence is relatively low among the 12-to-17 age group, but rises to 14 per cent of males and 17 per cent of females in those aged 35 to 44.

People in households where no one had graduated from high school were almost twice as likely to report chronic pain as those in households with at least one post-secondary graduate.

About a third of the more than two million people with back problems reported chronic pain.

Migraine headaches were reported among 17 per cent of females, with almost one quarter of these women saying their pain is chronic.

The president of the Canadian Pain Society, Dr. Mary Lynch, says pain is misunderstood and undertreated, and can be a lifelong struggle.

"Chronic pain is among the most disabling and costly medical conditions in North America," she said in a statement.

"In order to address this issue a national pain strategy needs to be put in place to increase pain awareness, research and treatment options."

The Statistics Canada report noted that absences from school, work and social activities have been linked to chronic pain, and mental health may be compromised.

Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting for several months or persisting after an injury has healed.