The Short Version
The core claim holds up well under scrutiny. Medical literature confirms that fear of public speaking affects roughly 15–30% of the global population, easily translating to hundreds of millions of people. The phrase "can significantly limit personal growth" is supported by documented evidence of avoidance behavior, missed career opportunities, and reduced participation — though this applies to a meaningful subset rather than all sufferers. The claim's careful use of "can" prevents it from being an overstatement, but it omits the fact that most people with this fear do not report significant daily impairment.