In an urban population of half a million, all proximal humeral fractures were recorded in 1983. A total of 565 fractures, of which 77 per cent occurred in women, were seen. The overall incidence per 100,000 was 48 in men and 142 in women, with an exponential increase from the 5th decade of age. This rise was due to a higher incidence of minimally displaced fractures associated with moderate trauma, and thus of fractures associated with osteoporosis.