Each year, the first week of May is recognized as National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week. The prevalence of anxiety disorders has been steadily rising over the years, increasing by approximately 50% around the world in the past two decades. Understanding the difference between occasional stress and an anxiety disorder, as well as increasing awareness and destigmatizing mental health, are key to helping those suffering from anxiety disorders.
People with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes, also called panic attacks.1
There is no one cause of anxiety. Events, fears, everyday situations, and even genetics play a role and can trigger anxiety disorders. There are various types of anxiety disorders including social, generalized, panic disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and specific anxiety disorders. Understanding risk factors as well as signs and symptoms can help identify and treat them.
The symptoms and diagnostic criteria for each subset of anxiety disorders are unique. However, collectively, the WHO’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) note frequent symptoms of:
- “Apprehension (worries about future misfortunes, feeling “on edge,” difficulty in concentrating, etc.)
- Motor tension (restless fidgeting, tension headaches, trembling, inability to relax)
- Autonomic overactivity (lightheadedness, sweating, tachycardia or tachypnoea, epigastric discomfort, dizziness, dry mouth, etc.).”
Signs of anxiety manifest differently in everyone, other common symptoms one can experience are:
- Feeling nervous, restless or tense
- Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
- Having an increased heart rate
- Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
- Feeling weak or tired
- Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
- Having trouble sleeping
- Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
- Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety
Anxiety Disorder Statistics in the United States
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US, affecting 40 million adults age 18 and older every year,2 with prevalence steadily increasing over the years.
- The US makes up 6.64% of the share of the world’s population affected by anxiety disorders3
- Anxiety disorders affect approximately 18.1% of the population every year2
- Levels of impairment among adults ranges:4
- The majority of adults with anxiety have a mild impairment at 43.5%
- 33.7% have a moderate impairment
- 22.8% have a serious impairment
Global Anxiety Disorder Statistics
Globally an estimated 284 million people experienced an anxiety disorder in 2017. This is about 3.8% of the population,3 of which 2.8% were men and 4.7% were women, making anxiety disorders the most prevalent mental health or neurodevelopmental disorder.3
- The prevalence of anxiety disorders across the world varies from 2.5 to 7 percent by country3
- 179 million were female (around 63%), relative to 105 million males3
- Countries that ranked the highest around the world in 2017 were:3
- New Zealand: 8.54%, up 3% since 1990
- Norway: 7.59%, down 1% since 1990
- Northern Ireland: 7.46%, up 2% since 1990
Anxiety Statistics by Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that currently affect 7.7 million adults, 6 million adults are afflicted with panic disorders, and specific phobias are the most commonly occurring type of anxiety disorder, affecting more than 19 million adults in the U.S.2
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder occurs when a person’s fears or worries are out of proportion to the actual circumstance and often occurs with other anxiety disorders or depression. This disorder usually includes excessive, uncontrollable worry about everyday routine activities or events.
- GAD affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population2
- Only 43.2% are receiving treatment2
- Women are twice as likely to be affected as men2
- GAD often co-occurs with major depression2
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder (SAD), or social phobia, involves avoidance of social situations due to feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness, and concern about being judged or viewed negatively by others. According to a 2007 ADAA survey, 36% of people with social anxiety disorder report experiencing symptoms for 10 or more years before seeking help.2
- SAD affects 15 million adults, or 6.8% of the U.S. population2
- SAD is equally common among men and women2
- This disorder typically begins around age 132
Anxiety Disorder Statistics by Age
Anxiety disorders affect people at all different stages of life, however it is more prevalent among some age groups. An estimated 31.1% of U.S. adults experience any given anxiety disorder at some time in their lives.4 The age group most likely affected by anxiety is those from 30 to 44 years of age.5
Anxiety Statistics in Adolescents
According to the NIMH, as of 2010 an estimated 31.9% of adolescents aged 13-18 were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.6 These age groups are also seeing the most increase in prevalence over time.
- As of 2017 in the US the prevalence among ages 5-14 was 4.20%, an 8% increase since 19907
- As of 2017 in the US7
- Youths age 10-14 made up 5.67% of the prevalence in the US, up 6% since 1990
- Teenagers 15-19 made up 6.95%, up 4% since 1990
- Of adolescents with any anxiety disorder, an estimated 8.3% had severe impairment6
- The prevalence of any anxiety disorder among adolescents was higher for females (38.0%) than for males (26.1%)6
- The prevalence of any anxiety disorder was similar across age groups
Anxiety Statistics in Adults
As of 2017, in the US:7
- Adults 30-34 made up 8.67% of anxiety in the US Between 1990 and 2017 adults ages, up 1% since 1990
- Older adults age 50-69 made up 7.17% of the population with anxiety, down 1% since 1990
- Older adults age 70+made up 4.91% of the prevalence in the US, down 6% since 1990
Read more about how anxiety impacts older adults.
Anxiety Disorder Statistics by Gender
Around the world, in all countries women are more likely to experience anxiety disorders than men. It estimated 284 million people experienced an anxiety disorder, around 63 percent (179 million) were female, relative to 105 million males.7
Anxiety & Co-Occurring Disorders
Prolonged anxiety places extra stress on the body. Therefore, chronic stress and anxiety disorders are often associated with another physical illness, or co-occurring disorder, which can in turn create a feedback loop making symptoms worse. A common co-occurring disorder of anxiety is substance abuse.
Anxiety disorders co-occur with substance use disorders at a high rate in both the general population and in people seeking treatment for addiction. Studies also show the co-occurrence of these disorders is associated with more severe symptoms relative to either disorder alone.8
Additionally, patients who have been diagnosed with serious, chronic, or terminal illnesses often have difficulty coping and can experience psychological symptoms. These symptoms can manifest as mania, depression, insomnia, and anxiety attacks. Statistics show that after diagnosis, 40% of cancer patients report developing significant distress that can include serious worry, panic attacks, depression, and PTSD, or posttraumatic stress disorder.9
Other common co-occurring disorders are:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Research has found that 50-90% of patients with IBS have a psychiatric disorder such as an anxiety disorder or depression10
- Headaches11
- Migraine headaches can precede the onset of mental disorders, according to a 2009 study
- A study found that 11% of participants in the study had migraines and a variety of anxiety or depressive disorders
- Eating disorders
- Hoarding disorder
- Sleep disorders
- Adult ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder)
- Chronic pain
- Fibromyalgia
As with all illnesses and disorders, it’s important to find appropriate treatment early.
Risk Factors for Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety occurs in people for different reasons ranging from everyday stressful situations, traumatic events like the death of a loved one, sleep disorders, or even genetics. Increased use in social media use has even been cited as a potential factor as to why anxiety prevalence has risen over the years. One study revealed that more time spent using social media was significantly associated with greater symptoms of dispositional anxiety.12
Other risk factors include:
- Children and adults experiencing traumatic events are at a higher risk of developing an anxiety disorder
- Low self-esteem, particularly in young people, can indicate anxiety13
- Genetics play a factor: One study found there is a moderate genetic risk of anxiety with a heritability of 30%14
- Major depressive disorder and other mental health disorders may often co-occur with anxiety
- Substance abuse, including drug or alcohol use, can increase or worsen anxiety
Anxiety Disorder Rates by Socioeconomic Status
Income level, education, and socioeconomic status affects whether a person is able or likely to seek help from a professional for mental health and mental disorders. For each additional level of education:15
- Individuals were 15% more likely to see a psychiatrist
- 12% more likely to see a family doctor
- 16% more likely to see a psychologist
- 16% more likely to see a social worker
Anxiety Within Minority Groups
Anxiety disorders do not affect all races and ethnicities equally. Studies show that different disorders are more prevalent amongst certain races, with different rates across ethnicities and types of anxieties.
One study found that white Americans demonstrate more symptoms of anxiety disorders than minority groups, with the exception of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD trends show that this particular anxiety disorder is more common among African Americans.
The study also found that different rates of anxiety disorders varied based upon races. The results showed the prevalence among different races for social anxiety disorder:16
- White Americans: 12.6%
- African Americans: 8.6%
- Hispanic Americans: 8.2%
- Asian Americans: 5.3%
For generalized anxiety disorder, the prevalence was:
- White Americans: 8.6%
- Hispanics: 5.8%
- African Americans: 4.9%
- Asian Americans: 2.4%
Prevalence of panic disorder among different races was found to be:
- White Americans: 5.1%
- Hispanic Americans: 4.1%
- African Americans: 3.8%
- Asian Americans: 2.1%
PTSD prevalence was:
- African Americans: 8.6%
- White Americans: 6.5%
- Hispanic Americans: 5.6%
- Asian Americans: 1.6%
Anxiety Disorder Statistics by Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity
Statistics around sexual orientation and mental health are difficult to quantify, but the studies that have been conducted point to mental health disparities among some, but not all, sexual minority groups. Researchers emphasized the importance of including multiple measures of sexual orientation in population-based health studies.
One study found that mental health outcomes differed by sex, dimension of sexual orientation, and sexual minority group. Whereas a lesbian, gay, or bisexual identity was associated with higher odds of any mood or anxiety disorder for both men and women, women reporting only same-sex sexual partners in their lifetime had the lowest rates of most disorders.17 The same study revealed:17
- Higher odds of any lifetime mood or anxiety disorder were more consistent and pronounced among sexual minority men than among sexual minority women
- Bisexual behavior conferred the highest odds of any mood or anxiety disorder for both males and females.
An additional study showed that sexual minority groups when compared to heterosexual respondents were significantly more likely to describe their lives as stressful, with a weak sense of belonging in their community. Researchers concluded that factors placed them at significantly greater odds of the negative mental health outcomes.19
A review of multiple studies concluded that:
- Consistent pattern of lowest rates of anxiety among heterosexual people18
- Bisexual people exhibt higher or equivalent rates in comparison to lesbian and gay people18/li>
Anxiety Trends Over Time
The prevalence of anxiety disorders has been increasing at an alarming rate around the world, rising approximately 50% around the world in the last 27 years.3 From 1990 to 2017 in the US alone:
- The number of women with anxiety increased by 28%, rising from 10.76 million to 13.73 million (+2.97 million)3
- The number of men with anxiety increased by 35%, rising from 5.37 million to 7.24 million (+1.87 million)3
From 1990 to 2017 the World saw a 50% increase in number of men and women with anxiety:
- Women: From 119.2 million to 178.72 million (59.52 million more people)3
- Men: from 70.62 million to 105.64 million (35.03 million more people)3
- A 6% increase across all ages from 1990 to 20173
From 1990 to 2017 the countries that have seen the most alarming increases in prevalence were:3
- Qatar saw largest increase in both men (651%) and women (431%)
- UAE had the second highest increase men (559%) and women (400%)
Anxiety Disorder Treatment Statistics
Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment.2 Seeking help early is important, anxiety like many other mental health conditions can be harder to treat the longer you wait. Staying active and avoiding alcohol or drug use can help prevent your anxiety from worsening.
Access to Care for Anxiety
Seeking out help for mental health and anxiety disorders is critical. If left untreated, prolonged anxiety can lead to other complications like depression, substance abuse, insomnia, chronic pain, digestive problems, and even places people at higher risk for suicide.
See your doctor if:1
- You feel like you’re worrying too much and it’s interfering with your work, relationships or other parts of your life
- Your fear, worry or anxiety is upsetting to you and difficult to control
- You feel depressed, have trouble with alcohol or drug use, or have other mental health concerns along with anxiety
- You think your anxiety could be linked to a physical health problem
- You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors — if this is the case, seek emergency treatment immediately
Anxiety disorders are generally treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both. There are many ways to treat anxiety and patients should work with their doctor to choose the treatment that is best for them.20
For Further Reading
- Mental Health America
- National Alliance on Mental Health
- MentalHealth.gov
- Getting involved during Mental Health Awareness Month
Resources for Those Dealing with Anxiety
The National Institute of Mental Health has shareable resources around increasing education and awareness around anxiety disorders. Understanding the difference between stress and anxiety as well as the signs and symptoms of each can help you better understand how to cope.
Resources During a Crisis
If you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of a crisis, seek out help.
Please see the following for crisis resources:
- Suicide hotline National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK)
- Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741
- Crisis Text Line is free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text from anywhere in the USA to text with a trained Crisis Counselor
- The Trevor Project Hotline, suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ+ individuals (call or text): 1-866-488-7386
Note: The FCC has designated 9-8-8 as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, but this number will not take effect until July of 2022.
