Anxiety in America: Key Statistics & Trends in 2025
Top 25 U.S. Anxiety Statistics (2025)
This quick-reference table highlights authoritative, U.S.-only anxiety statistics from NIMH, CDC, ADAA, KFF, and MHA to help readers verify the data.
Last updated: August 25, 2025
| # | Key Statistic (U.S.) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19.1% of U.S. adults had any anxiety disorder in the past year | NIMH – Any Anxiety Disorder |
| 2 | 31.1% of U.S. adults will experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime | NIMH – Any Anxiety Disorder |
| 3 | 42.5 million U.S. adults have an anxiety disorder | MHA – Quick Facts (Anxiety) |
| 4 | Lifetime prevalence of any anxiety disorder: 31.6% of U.S. adults | MHA – Quick Facts (Anxiety) |
| 5 | 18.2% of U.S. adults reported symptoms of anxiety in the past 2 weeks (2022) | CDC – NHIS 2022 (NHSR No. 213) |
| 6 | Anxiety symptoms rose from 15.6% (2019) to 18.2% (2022) | CDC – NHIS 2019 (DB378) | CDC – NHIS 2022 (NHSR 213) |
| 7 | 6.0% of U.S. adults had moderate or severe anxiety symptoms in a 2-week period (2019) | CDC – NHIS 2019 (DB378) |
| 8 | 2.7% of U.S. adults had generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in the past year | NIMH – GAD |
| 9 | 5.7% of U.S. adults will experience GAD in their lifetime | NIMH – GAD |
| 10 | ~6.0 million U.S. adults (≈2.7%) have panic disorder | ADAA – Facts & Statistics |
| 11 | ~15 million U.S. adults (≈7.1%) have social anxiety disorder | ADAA – Facts & Statistics |
| 12 | ~19.3 million U.S. adults (≈9.1%) have specific phobias | ADAA – Facts & Statistics |
| 13 | ~2.5 million U.S. adults (≈1.2%) have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) | ADAA – Facts & Statistics |
| 14 | ~7.7 million U.S. adults (≈3.6%) have PTSD | ADAA – Facts & Statistics |
| 15 | Women report any anxiety disorder more than men: 23.4% vs. 14.3% | NIMH – Any Anxiety Disorder |
| 16 | 31.9% of U.S. adolescents (13–18) have had any anxiety disorder | NIMH – Any Anxiety Disorder (Adolescents) |
| 17 | Adolescent anxiety is higher among girls (38.0%) than boys (26.1%) | NIMH – Any Anxiety Disorder (Adolescents) |
| 18 | By age: ~22–23% of ages 18–44 had anxiety in a year; ~9% among 60+ | NIMH – Any Anxiety Disorder (Adults by Age) |
| 19 | Only 43.2% of U.S. adults with GAD receive treatment | ADAA – Facts & Statistics |
| 20 | Nearly half of U.S. adults with depression also have an anxiety disorder | ADAA – Facts & Statistics |
| 21 | 11% of U.S. children (ages 3–17) had current, diagnosed anxiety (2022–2023) | CDC – Children’s Mental Health (Data & Statistics) |
| 22 | 20% of U.S. adolescents (12–17) reported anxiety symptoms in the past 2 weeks (2021–2023) | CDC – NHIS-Teen 2021–2023 |
| 23 | 39.3% of U.S. adults reported anxiety or depression symptoms in Feb 2021 | KFF – HPS Analysis (Feb 2021) |
| 24 | Anxiety disorders cost the U.S. about $42.3–$46.6 billion per year (1990 est.) | J Clin Psychiatry (Greenberg 1999) | Anxiety (DuPont 1996) |
| 25 | Diagnosed anxiety disorders are more common in U.S. girls (12%) than boys (9%) | CDC – Children’s Mental Health (Sex breakdown) |
If you want the bigger picture, check our Mental Health Statistics (2025).
For relationship-specific numbers, see Relationship Statistics: Insight for Couples and How Couples Meet (2025).
Anxiety Statistics at a Glance (2025)
U.S. adults (past year): 19.1% had any anxiety disorder; women 23.4% vs men 14.3%. Lifetime risk 31.1%.
Impairment (adults with any anxiety disorder): 22.8% serious, 33.7% moderate, 43.5% mild (Sheehan Disability Scale).
U.S. adolescents (lifetime): 31.9% have any anxiety disorder; 8.3% have severe impairment; girls 38.0% vs boys 26.1%; rates are similar across adolescent age groups.
Global burden: Anxiety disorders affected 301 million people in 2019 (most common mental disorders worldwide).
Who’s more affected? Women are affected more than men (U.S. and global patterns).
Onset: Symptoms often begin in childhood or adolescence.
Treatment works, but access lags: Effective treatments exist; globally ~1 in 4 (27.6%) with anxiety receive any treatment. In the U.S., 50.6% of adults with any mental illness received treatment in 2022.
By condition (example): Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) affects ~2.7% of U.S. adults in a given year; women 3.4% vs men 1.9%.
What counts as an “anxiety disorder” in these numbers?
NIMH’s “any anxiety disorder” combines conditions like panic disorder, GAD, agoraphobia, specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, and (in the older DSM-IV survey years used by NIMH’s charts) PTSD and OCD. Newer DSM-5 categories list PTSD and OCD separately, which is why prevalence can vary across sources. National Institute of Mental Health
How common is anxiety among U.S. adults?
About 1 in 5 U.S. adults (19.1%) meet criteria in a given year, and about 1 in 3 (31.1%) will experience an anxiety disorder sometime in life. Women are more likely than men to meet criteria (23.4% vs 14.3% past year). Among adults with any anxiety disorder, impairment ranges from mild (43.5%) to moderate (33.7%) to serious (22.8%). In plain English: anxiety is common, and its impact ranges from inconvenient to truly disabling—but all levels can get better with the right plan. National Institute of Mental Health
What about teens?
Anxiety often starts young. 31.9% of U.S. adolescents have a lifetime anxiety disorder, and 8.3% experience severe impairment. Girls have higher rates than boys (38.0% vs 26.1%), and—interestingly—rates are similar across ages 13–18, so a “wait and see” approach can miss real distress. National Institute of Mental Health
How does the U.S. compare to the world?
Globally, ~301 million people lived with an anxiety disorder in 2019, making anxiety the most common class of mental disorders. WHO also underscores that effective treatments exist and that women are affected more than men, mirroring U.S. patterns.
When do symptoms typically begin?
WHO notes that childhood and adolescence are frequent points of onset. That’s one reason early checks (brief screening, skills coaching) can shorten how long symptoms stick around. World Health Organization
Are people getting treatment?
Two views help here:
Global: only about 1 in 4 (27.6%) people with anxiety receive any treatment—barriers include awareness, trained providers, investment, and stigma. World Health Organization
U.S. (all mental illness): in 2022, 50.6% of adults with any mental illness (AMI) received treatment (medication and/or therapy). That’s not anxiety-specific, but it illustrates the treatment gap in practice. National Institute of Mental Health
Which types of anxiety are most common?
Among individual diagnoses, GAD hits about 2.7% of adults in a typical year (women 3.4% vs men 1.9%). Specific phobias and social anxiety are also common, but exact shares vary by survey. If you’re trying to decide whether what you’re experiencing is “clinical,” a quick screen with a clinician is the most reliable path. National Institute of Mental Health
Are rates going up?
Globally, anxiety and depression rose during 2020 with the pandemic (WHO initial estimates: +26% for anxiety), and service use patterns shifted toward telehealth. Long-term trend lines vary by data source, but a key takeaway is that demand for care increased and digital access expanded. World Health Organization
What do these numbers mean for care?
High prevalence + varied impairment means there’s no single “right level” of help—some people do best with skills-focused therapy (CBT, exposure); others benefit from trauma-informed work (e.g., EMDR when triggers tie to past events).
Early onset argues for early intervention—for teens, that can look like parent-supported coaching, routine resets (sleep, screen hygiene), and school coordination.
Treatment gaps suggest being flexible about telehealth, group therapy, and brief protocols while you navigate insurance/waitlists; effective care doesn’t have to be complicated to start helping.
If you’re in Colorado
South Denver Therapy (Castle Rock) offers EMDR, Couples & Marriage Counseling, Infidelity Repair, Premarital Counseling, Couples Intensives, and individual therapy for anxiety, depression, and trauma—in person in Castle Rock or via telehealth statewide. Now accepting new clients.
