Anxiety statistics

Anxiety disorders cause fear and worry that are intense, excessive and hard to control. They can last a long time and get in the way of work, study, family and friendships. The World Health Organization calls them the world's most common mental disorders. It also says there are highly effective treatments.

Anxiety disorders are a family of conditions. Generalised anxiety disorder is persistent worry about everyday life. Panic disorder brings repeated panic attacks and fear of the next one. Social anxiety disorder is an intense fear that other people will judge or humiliate you. A specific phobia is an intense fear of one object or situation. Agoraphobia, separation anxiety disorder and selective mutism belong to the family too. This page never merges them. Each figure says which condition it counts.

Studies also count over different periods. A lifetime figure counts anyone who has ever had the condition. A past-year figure counts the previous twelve months, and a current figure counts the present. Diagnostic manuals change too. Under DSM-IV, the anxiety group included post-traumatic stress disorder. DSM-5 lists it separately, so older group totals are not directly comparable with newer ones.

Worldwide estimates

These estimates come from the Global Burden of Disease study, a statistical model that the World Health Organization cites. The figures for all ages use its latest round, and the adolescent figures an earlier round.

• An estimated 470 million people worldwide had an anxiety disorder in 2023, which makes anxiety disorders the most common of all mental disorders. (modelled estimate, 2023 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹
• The World Health Organization estimates that 5.8% of the world's population currently has an anxiety disorder. (modelled estimate, published 2026, year not stated, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹
• Worldwide, an estimated 4.1% of adolescents aged 10 to 14 had an anxiety disorder in 2021. (modelled estimate, 2021 data, checked 9 Oct 2026) ⁴
• Worldwide, an estimated 5.3% of adolescents aged 15 to 19 had an anxiety disorder in 2021. (modelled estimate, 2021 data, checked 9 Oct 2026) ⁴

Generalised anxiety disorder

The World Mental Health surveys interviewed adults in their homes in many countries, using the same diagnostic interview everywhere. This analysis used the DSM-5 definition of generalised anxiety disorder.

• Across adults in household surveys in 26 countries, 3.7% had had generalised anxiety disorder, as DSM-5 defines it, at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2001-2012 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ³
• Across adults in household surveys in 26 countries, 1.8% had generalised anxiety disorder, as DSM-5 defines it, in the past twelve months. (survey, past 12 months, 2001-2012 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ³
• Among adults in the high-income countries surveyed, 5.0% had had generalised anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2001-2012 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ³
• Among adults in the low-income countries surveyed, 1.6% had had generalised anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2001-2012 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ³

Panic attacks and panic disorder

A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear with strong physical symptoms. Panic disorder means repeated, unexpected attacks and lasting worry about having more. Many people have a panic attack without ever developing panic disorder.

• Across adults aged 18 and over in surveys in 25 countries, 13.2% had had at least one panic attack at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2001-2012 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ⁵
• Across adults aged 18 and over in surveys in 25 countries, 1.7% had had panic disorder, as DSM-5 defines it, at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2001-2012 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ⁵

Social anxiety disorder and specific phobia

These figures come from the World Mental Health surveys, which used the DSM-IV definitions. Specific phobias usually begin in childhood.

• Across respondents to 28 community surveys in many countries, 4.0% had had social anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2001-2012 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ⁶
• Across adults in 25 surveys in 22 countries, 7.4% had had a specific phobia at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2001-2011 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ⁷
• Across adults in 25 surveys in 22 countries, 5.5% had a specific phobia in the past twelve months. (survey, past 12 months, 2001-2011 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ⁷

The treatment gap

A treatment gap is the share of people with a condition who get no care for it. The first two figures come from surveys in many countries, which counted any professional treatment in the past year, including complementary and non-medical providers. These surveys used DSM-IV, so their anxiety group includes post-traumatic stress disorder.

• Only 27.6% of adults with a past-year anxiety disorder in 24 surveys in 21 countries received any treatment in that year from a professional, counting complementary and non-medical providers as well as doctors. (survey, past 12 months, 2001-2015 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ²
• Only 9.8% of adults with a past-year anxiety disorder in 24 surveys in 21 countries received treatment that the researchers judged possibly adequate. (survey, past 12 months, 2001-2015 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ²
• About half of adults with generalised anxiety disorder in the past year in surveys in 26 countries, 49.2%, received some form of mental health treatment in that year. (survey, past 12 months, 2001-2012 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ³

Africa

South Africa's figures come from the national South African Stress and Health study. It did not assess specific phobia or separation anxiety disorder, so its anxiety total leaves them out. Nigeria's survey covered eight states and found almost no generalised anxiety disorder.

• In a national survey of South African adults run in 2003-2004, 15.8% had had an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2003-2004 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ⁸
• In a national survey of South African adults run in 2003-2004, 8.1% had an anxiety disorder in the previous twelve months. (survey, past 12 months, 2003-2004 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ⁸
• In a survey of adults in eight mainly Yoruba-speaking states of Nigeria, run in 2002, 5.7% had had an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2002 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ⁹
• In a survey of adults in eight mainly Yoruba-speaking states of Nigeria, run in 2002, 4.1% had an anxiety disorder in the previous twelve months. (survey, past 12 months, 2002 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ⁹

Asia

India's National Mental Health Survey used ICD-10. Its broad group of neurotic and stress-related disorders includes anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and stress-related conditions. China's figures come from a national household survey of adults.

• In India's National Mental Health Survey of adults aged 18 and over in 12 states, 3.5% currently had a neurotic or stress-related disorder, the ICD-10 group that includes the anxiety disorders. (survey, at one point in time, 2015-2016 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁰
• In India's National Mental Health Survey of adults aged 18 and over in 12 states, 0.6% currently had generalised anxiety disorder. (survey, at one point in time, 2015-2016 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁰
• In China, 5.0% of adults in a national survey had an anxiety disorder in the previous twelve months. (survey, past 12 months, 2013-2015 data, checked 13 Oct 2026) ¹¹
• In China, 7.6% of adults in a national survey had had an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2013-2015 data, checked 13 Oct 2026) ¹¹

Europe

England's Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey uses an interview that asks about symptoms in the past week. The survey has run several times, so it can show change over time.

• In England, an interview survey run in 2023-4 found generalised anxiety disorder in 7.5% of adults, based on symptoms in the past week. (survey, 2023-4 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹²
• In England, an interview survey run in 2023-4 found a phobia in 2.6% of adults, based on symptoms in the past week. (survey, 2023-4 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹²
• In England, an interview survey run in 2023-4 found panic disorder in 1.0% of adults, based on symptoms in the past week. (survey, 2023-4 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹²
• An interview survey run in 2000 found generalised anxiety disorder in 1.1% of adults aged 16 to 24 in England, based on symptoms in the past week. (survey, 2000 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹²
• An interview survey run in 2023-4 found generalised anxiety disorder in 7.6% of adults aged 16 to 24 in England, based on symptoms in the past week. (survey, 2023-4 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹²

North America

The United States figures come from two national surveys, one of adults and one of adolescents. Both used DSM-IV, so their anxiety group includes post-traumatic stress disorder and, for adults, obsessive-compulsive disorder. Canada's latest figure comes from its Mental Health and Access to Care Survey, and Statistics Canada compares it with an earlier survey.

• In the United States, 18.1% of English-speaking adults aged 18 and over in a national household survey had an anxiety disorder in the previous twelve months, as DSM-IV defined the group. (survey, past 12 months, 2001-2003 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹³
• In the United States, 8.7% of English-speaking adults aged 18 and over in a national household survey had a specific phobia in the previous twelve months. (survey, past 12 months, 2001-2003 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹³
• In the United States, 6.8% of English-speaking adults aged 18 and over in a national household survey had social phobia in the previous twelve months. (survey, past 12 months, 2001-2003 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹³
• In the United States, 31.9% of adolescents aged 13 to 18 in a national survey had ever met the criteria for an anxiety disorder. (survey, lifetime (ever), published 2010, fieldwork year not stated, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁴
• In the United States, 8.3% of adolescents aged 13 to 18 in a national survey had ever had an anxiety disorder with severe impairment or distress. (survey, lifetime (ever), published 2010, fieldwork year not stated, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁴
• In 2012, 2.6% of people aged 15 and older in Canada met the criteria for generalised anxiety disorder in the previous twelve months. (survey, past 12 months, 2012 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁵
• In 2022, 5.2% of people aged 15 and older in Canada met the criteria for generalised anxiety disorder in the previous twelve months. (survey, past 12 months, 2022 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁵

South America

Brazil's figure comes from a survey of adults in the São Paulo metropolitan area, one of the world's largest cities. It is not a national figure.

• In a survey of adults aged 18 and over in the São Paulo metropolitan area, 19.9% had an anxiety disorder in the previous twelve months. (survey, past 12 months, 2005-2007 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁶

Oceania

Australia's figures come from its National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Its anxiety group includes post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

• In Australia, 17.2% of people aged 16 to 85 had an anxiety disorder in the previous twelve months, in a national survey run in 2020-2022. (survey, past 12 months, 2020-2022 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁷
• In Australia, 28.8% of people aged 16 to 85 had had an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, in a national survey run in 2020-2022. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2020-2022 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁷
• In Australia, 21.1% of females aged 16 to 85 had an anxiety disorder in the previous twelve months, in a national survey run in 2020-2022. (survey, past 12 months, 2020-2022 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁷
• In Australia, 13.3% of males aged 16 to 85 had an anxiety disorder in the previous twelve months, in a national survey run in 2020-2022. (survey, past 12 months, 2020-2022 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁷
• In Australia, 31.8% of people aged 16 to 24 had an anxiety disorder in the previous twelve months, in a national survey run in 2020-2022. (survey, past 12 months, 2020-2022 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁷

Middle East

These three national surveys were part of the World Mental Health surveys. The Saudi survey did not assess specific phobia, and separation anxiety disorder made up a large part of its total.

• In Lebanon, 16.7% of adults aged 18 and over in a national household survey had had an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2002-2003 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁸
• In Iraq, 13.8% of adults aged 18 and over in a national household survey had had an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), 2006-2007 data, checked 10 Oct 2026) ¹⁹
• In Saudi Arabia, 23.2% of Saudi citizens aged 15 to 65 in a national household survey had had an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. (survey, lifetime (ever), published 2020, fieldwork year not stated, checked 10 Oct 2026) ²⁰

National figures side by side

These surveys counted different groups of disorders, over different periods, in different years. Some were national and some covered one region or city. Read each row with its label, and do not rank the countries.

How to read these figures

A lifetime figure is never lower than a past-year or current figure from the same people. Compare like with like.

Surveys define the anxiety group differently. Some include post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, some leave out specific phobia, and India's survey counts a wider ICD-10 group. A gap between two countries can come from what each survey counted, not only from how common anxiety is.

Most national surveys here are household interview surveys. They can miss people in hospitals, prisons or without a home, and people who do not want to talk about their mental health.

The Global Burden of Disease figures come from a statistical model. The World Health Organization quotes them as estimates, and this page does the same, with citation. This page does not reproduce the datasets themselves.

Anxiety disorders are treatable. The World Health Organization says psychological therapies based on cognitive behavioural therapy have the most evidence, including exposure therapy. Antidepressants such as SSRIs can also help adults. It does not generally recommend benzodiazepines, because of the risk of dependence.

If anxiety is affecting your life, a psychologist or counsellor can help. Our guide on how to find the right therapist explains what to look for. If you are in distress right now, see our helplines and suicide hotlines worldwide.

Cite this page: TherapyRoute. Anxiety statistics. https://www.therapyroute.com/article/anxiety-2025-statistics-by-therapyroute. Last updated 13 October 2026.

References

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