Impact Report 2023
Smile Train
Smile Train at 25
Study shows $69 billion in impact from Smile Train’s surgical program
We’ve analyzed data on primary cleft surgeries from 1,485,661 Smile Train patient records across 90+ countries between 2001-2023. Our total economic impact achieved from Smile Train’s surgical program globally is more than $69 billion!
Smile Train has been transforming lives and global cleft care for 25 years, significantly enhancing the welfare of countless individuals, families, and communities in the process. Treating a cleft changes – and can even save – a child’s life.
Treating a cleft also boosts the global economy. People with treated clefts can participate in society and find a career that use their full potential. They can pursue opportunities free from the challenges and stigma that can come with having an untreated cleft.
Impact snapshot
$400 per surgery
$60,000 back to the local economy on average per surgery
- The average return on investment for a single surgery is 150x
Top 5 countries by economic benefit
- 1. China | 287,195 surgeries | $19,527,283,416 in economic benefit
- 2. India | 506,903 surgeries | $16,602,782,649 in economic benefit
- 3. Indonesia | 95,227 surgeries | $6,074,713,437 in economic benefit
- 4. Brazil | 34,131 surgeries | $5,504,449,013 in economic benefit
- 5. Mexico | 17,623 surgeries | $$3,253,264,903 in economic benefit
What sets Smile Train apart?
Smile Train is the world’s largest cleft charity. Our sustainable “teach a man to fish” model empowers local medical practitioners with training, funding, and resources so they can provide free, comprehensive cleft care and go on to train their peers.
Teaching local practitioners makes cleft care scalable and builds lasting medical infrastructure around the world. And when local practitioners go on to teach others in return, more surgeries are performed, more people can participate in the economy, and more money goes back into the community.
1,000 partner centers
100,000+ training opportunities for medical workers
2,100+ trained medical professionals
Meet Aira
Aira, age 8, lives in Indonesia. Before her cleft surgery, she had always been shy and self-conscious. After her surgery, her confidence grew. She started doing better in school and says she wants to be a doctor when she grows up. With a new smile and outlook, Aira can be a productive member of society and meaningfully participate in her community.
Aira is one of millions of people who have new smiles and confidence thanks to Smile Train and their local partners.
In fact, Indonesia is where we recently sponsored our two-millionth cleft surgery.
2 million surgeries sponsored
To learn more about our life-changing work, read the full impact report.
Smile Train at 25
Study shows $69 billion in impact from Smile Train’s surgical program
We’ve analyzed data on primary cleft surgeries from 1,485,661 Smile Train patient records across 90+ countries between 2001-2023. Our total economic impact achieved from Smile Train’s surgical program globally is more than $69 billion!
Smile Train has been transforming lives and global cleft care for 25 years, significantly enhancing the welfare of countless individuals, families, and communities in the process. Treating a cleft changes – and can even save – a child’s life.
Treating a cleft also boosts the global economy. People with treated clefts can participate in society and find a career that use their full potential. They can pursue opportunities free from the challenges and stigma that can come with having an untreated cleft.
Impact snapshot
$400 per surgery
$60,000 back to the local economy on average per surgery
- The average return on investment for a single surgery is 150x
Top 5 countries by economic benefit
- 1. China | 287,195 surgeries | $19,527,283,416 in economic benefit
- 2. India | 506,903 surgeries | $16,602,782,649 in economic benefit
- 3. Indonesia | 95,227 surgeries | $6,074,713,437 in economic benefit
- 4. Brazil | 34,131 surgeries | $5,504,449,013 in economic benefit
- 5. Mexico | 17,623 surgeries | $$3,253,264,903 in economic benefit
What sets Smile Train apart?
Smile Train is the world’s largest cleft charity. Our sustainable “teach a man to fish” model empowers local medical practitioners with training, funding, and resources so they can provide free, comprehensive cleft care and go on to train their peers.
Teaching local practitioners makes cleft care scalable and builds lasting medical infrastructure around the world. And when local practitioners go on to teach others in return, more surgeries are performed, more people can participate in the economy, and more money goes back into the community.
1,000 partner centers
100,000+ training opportunities for medical workers
2,100+ trained medical professionals
Meet Aira
Aira, age 8, lives in Indonesia. Before her cleft surgery, she had always been shy and self-conscious. After her surgery, her confidence grew. She started doing better in school and says she wants to be a doctor when she grows up. With a new smile and outlook, Aira can be a productive member of society and meaningfully participate in her community.
Aira is one of millions of people who have new smiles and confidence thanks to Smile Train and their local partners.
In fact, Indonesia is where we recently sponsored our two-millionth cleft surgery.
2 million surgeries sponsored
To learn more about our life-changing work, read the full impact report.