Depression Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know
Medically reviewed by Michael MacIntyre, MD
Depression—also called clinical depression or major depressive disorder (MDD)—is a debilitating mental illness that impacts between 200 and 300 million people worldwide, regardless of age. Depression can look and feel different for each person, and many people may not even show any outward signs of depression.
This article will provide an overview of facts, information, and statistics about depression.
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Depression Overview and Quick Facts
People with depression often experience similar feelings. Though depression can look and feel different for each person, there are several common symptoms. These include:
Deep sadness
Dejection
Despair
Emptiness
Hopelessness
Sorrow
Understanding depression can help you cope or support a loved one living with the condition. Here are some quick facts about depression:
Depression is common: Depression is the primary cause of disability around the world, and the number of people with depression has increased steadily in recent times.
Different people experience different symptoms: While the experience differs for each person, it's common for people to lose interest in things they once enjoyed and experience ongoing fatigue.
Depression occurs at different intensities: Depression can be mild, moderate, or severe and can affect people differently depending on their symptoms, coping abilities, and resources.
Depression can increase the risk of death for some people: In severe and untreated cases, depression can lead to increased mortality in some people, usually due to suicide.
Takeaway
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
Related: What Does Depression Feel Like?
How Common Is Depression?
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses worldwide. Though its prevalence varies by country, depression is the leading cause of death in many places. Statistics include:
Depression affects between 200 and 300 million people worldwide: The rate of depression is around 17% in the United States and ranges from 8% to 12% in most countries.
The pandemic impacted rates of depression: A 2023 report found that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, depression and anxiety rates went up by 25% worldwide.
Depression also impacts children: Research shows that around 3% of children under 13 years old and 5.6% of teens suffer from depression.
Related: Do I Have Depression?
Depression by Age, Gender, and Ethnicity
Though depression can impact anyone, depression is more common in certain populations. Characteristics such as age, gender, and ethnicity are not risk factors, but people within certain groups are more susceptible to depression due to external circumstances such as discrimination, bias, and cultural norms around mental health, as follows:
Depression is one of the most common illnesses in children and adolescents: Depression is the leading cause of disease and disability in children, and adolescents with depression are at high risk of suicide. Depression in early childhood may increase the risk of depression and difficulty concentrating later in life, which can negatively impact a person's development.
LGBTQ youth are disproportionately affected by depression: A 2022 survey by The Trevor Project—a youth LGBTQ suicide-prevention organization—found that 58% of LGBTQ youth experienced depression symptoms, and 45% had seriously considered suicide in the last year.
Women are more likely to have depression than men: Women's risk of depression is about twice that of men's; however, they are less likely to complete suicide.
Depression Causes and Risk Factors
Several risk factors can lead to depression. These include:
Genetics: Depression has a heritability rate of around 38%. This means that in someone with depression, there's a 38% chance that their depression is due to genetics.
Other mental illnesses: The most common mental illnesses in which depression is also present are bipolar disorder and anxiety, and 60% of people with depression also have or have had anxiety. People with anxiety or bipolar disorder may be at risk of developing depression, and vice versa.
Stressful life events: Experiencing a stressful life event, such as childhood trauma or recent difficulties like the death of a loved one, can contribute to depression.
Income level: Depression rates generally increase as family income level decreases. Those who live below the poverty line are at the highest risk of depression.
Screening, Early Depression Diagnosis, and Treatment
Depression is a treatable illness, but most people do not seek treatment to manage their symptoms. With screening tools and early symptom detection, such as the following: depression can be diagnosed and effectively treated in most people:
Your medical or mental health provider can provide assessments to diagnose depression: There are simple, quick assessments available to measure depression symptoms. An example is the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
Receiving a diagnosis leads to appropriate treatment: Treatment for depression can include a combination of self-care techniques, social support, and clinical treatment such as medication and therapy.
Having an accurate diagnosis can be empowering: Understanding why you experience specific symptoms makes you better equipped to seek effective treatments.
For many people, treatment can be short-term: One of the most effective treatment methods for depression—cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—can be provided in six to 10 sessions. With appropriate symptom management, long-term and ongoing treatment may not be needed for everyone.
Along with therapy, medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can also help manage depression symptoms.
Severe Depression
Some people have severe depression symptoms and may experience ongoing distress, self-neglect, or self-harming behavior. Those with severe depression should seek immediate treatment from a licensed mental health provider.
Depression and Suicide
In some people with severe cases, depression can lead to suicide. Here are some facts about suicide and depression:
Suicidal thoughts and attempts are associated with depression: The rate of suicide for people with depression is around 15%.
Suicide is more than an attempt to harm or kill oneself: Suicidal behaviors include thinking about suicide, threatening to kill oneself, planning for suicide, attempting suicide, and completing suicide. All behaviors related to suicidal thinking and action should be taken seriously.
Suicide is complex and connected to multiple factors: There isn't one reason or one situation that causes a person to die by suicide. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors come about for several complex reasons, which can include genetics, difficult or stressful life situations, and mental illness.
Although connected, suicidal thoughts and depression are not always part of a causal relationship: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are frequently connected, but one doesn't necessarily mean the other. A person with depression is not necessarily going to be suicidal, and a person who has suicidal thoughts may not have depression.
A mental health professional can help provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for anyone experiencing symptoms of depression or suicidality.
Summary
Depression is a common mental illness affecting millions of people worldwide. Though anyone can have depression, it is more commonly reported in women than men, teens than young children, and non-Hispanic Black men than those of other ethnic groups.
People with co-occurring mental illnesses, inadequate income, and having family members with depression are at higher risk. Depression is also linked to suicide, and anyone thinking or talking about suicide should be taken seriously.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
