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Abstract Background Dental caries and type 1 diabetes are responsible for a large burden of global disease; however, the exact prevalence of dental caries among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes remains controversial, and no quantitative meta-analysis exists. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Methods We performed a systematic search strategy using PubMed, EMBASE and China National Knowledge Infrastructure for relevant studies investigating the prevalence of dental caries in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes from July 1971 until December 2018. The pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) and subgroup analyses were calculated using a random effects model. Results After screening 358 non-duplicated articles, a total of 10 articles involving 538 individuals were included. The overall prevalence of dental caries among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes was 67% (95% CI: 0.56–0.77%; I 2 = 83%). The prevalence was highest in South America (84%) and lowest in diabetic patients with good metabolic control (47%). Conclusions The prevalence of dental caries was high among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Screening and preventive treatment should be included in dental clinical routines for diabetic children and adolescents, especially in those with poor metabolic control.