Depression Statistics: What the Numbers Reveal in 2026
| Category | Key Statistic (U.S.) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Current depression (2025) | 18.3% of U.S. adults currently have or are being treated for depression—approximately 47.8 million Americans. This is a record high. | Gallup (2025) |
| Lifetime diagnosis | 29.0% of U.S. adults report having been diagnosed with depression at some point—nearly 1 in 3 (record high). | Gallup (2025) |
| 10-year trend | Depression prevalence increased 60% from 2013–2014 (8.2%) to 2021–2023 (13.1%). | CDC Data Brief 527 |
| Prevalence (symptoms) | In 2021–2023, 13.1% of adolescents & adults had depression symptoms during the prior 2 weeks. | CDC Data Brief 527 |
| Sex differences | 16.0% of females vs 10.1% of males had depression symptoms (2021–2023). | CDC Data Brief 527 |
| By sex (lifetime) | Lifetime diagnosis: 36.7% of women vs 20.4% of men. | Gallup (2025) |
| Age pattern | Highest among ages 12–19 (19.2%); lowest among ages 60+ (8.7%). | CDC Data Brief 527 |
| Young adult surge | Depression among adults aged 18–29 more than doubled: from 13.0% (2017) to 26.7% (2025)—more than 1 in 4. | Gallup (2025) |
| Race & ethnicity | Depression symptoms by group (2021–2023): 18.3% (Non-Hispanic multiracial), 13.6% (Black), 11.5% (White), 11.3% (Hispanic), 7.4% (Asian). | CDC Data Brief 527 |
| Racial/ethnic trend | Lifetime depression rates among Black and Hispanic adults have surpassed those of White adults in the latest Gallup data. | Gallup (2025) |
| Income gradient | Prevalence falls sharply with income: 21.1% (<100% FPL), 16.8% (100–<200%), 10.7% (200–<400%), 6.8% (≥400%). | CDC Data Brief 527 |
| Income disparity surge | Depression in low-income households (<$24K/year) surged from 22.1% (2017) to 35.1% (2025)—a 13-point increase. More than 1 in 3 low-income adults. | Gallup (2025) |
| Loneliness link | 33% of lonely adults have depression vs. 13% of non-lonely adults. 21% of U.S. adults report significant daily loneliness (up from 17–18% in 2022–2023). | Gallup (2025) |
| Household | Those living alone had higher prevalence (17.3%) than those not living alone (11.2%). | CDC Data Brief 527 |
| Region | Regional range: Midwest 15.7% (highest) vs South 11.9% (lowest), 2021–2023. | CDC Data Brief 527 |
| Functioning | Among those with depression symptoms, 87.9% reported difficulty with daily activities; 31.2% reported extreme difficulty. | CDC Data Brief 527 |
| Trend since 2007–2008 | Prevalence increased for both sexes (2007–2008 → 2021–2023): +5.8 percentage points (females) and +3.7 (males). | CDC Data Brief 527 |
| Treatment gap (therapy) | Only 43.0% of women and 33.2% of men with depression received counseling or therapy in the past year. | CDC |
| Treatment gap (adults) | About 49% of adults with major depressive disorder are not receiving treatment. | ADAA |
| Treatment delay | Average delay between onset of depression symptoms and treatment: 11 years. | NAMI (2025) |
| Adolescents (MDE) | ~4.1 million U.S. adolescents (ages 12–17) had at least one major depressive episode; about 60% did not receive treatment. | ADAA (citing NIMH) |
| Youth improvement (2024) | Youth major depressive episodes dropped from 18.1% (2023) to 15.4% (2024); suicidal ideation from 12.3% to 10.1%—first significant decline in over a decade. | MHA (2024) |
| MDE (past year) | Major depressive disorder affects more than 21 million U.S. adults—about 8.4% of the population—in a given year. | ADAA (citing NIMH) |
| Lifetime risk | Nearly 21% of U.S. adults will develop major depressive disorder at some point in life. | ADAA (Hasin et al.) |
| Onset | Median age of onset for MDD is about 32.5 years; MDD is a leading cause of disability for ages 15–44. | ADAA |
| Comorbidity | Nearly half of those with depression also have an anxiety disorder. | ADAA |
| Economic cost | Depression costs the U.S. roughly $63 billion per year in lost workplace productivity. It is the leading cause of disability. | DBSA |
| Healthcare utilization | 12.3% of emergency department visits by U.S. adults are related to mental health; 15 million physician visits annually list depression as primary diagnosis. | NAMI (2025) |
| Persistent Depressive Disorder | PDD affects about 1.5% (≈3.1 million) of U.S. adults in a given year; average onset ≈31. | ADAA |
Notes: CDC NHANES figures are symptom-based (PHQ-9, past-2-weeks). Gallup figures reflect self-report of clinician diagnosis and current treatment. ADAA/DBSA items largely cite NIMH/CDC estimates. Table updated January 2026.
Key Takeaways
In 2025, 18.3% of U.S. adults currently have depression or are being treated for it—approximately 47.8 million Americans. This is a historic high.
Young adults (18-29) have the highest rates at 26.7%—more than double the 13.0% rate from 2017.
Women report depression at nearly double the rate of men: 36.7% lifetime diagnosis vs. about 20%.
Depression strongly correlates with income: 35.1% of low-income adults (<$24K/year) have depression vs. ~10% of higher earners.
Loneliness is closely linked: 33% of lonely adults have depression vs. 13% of non-lonely adults.
Most people with depression (about 88%) report significant impairment in daily life, yet only 39-43% receive therapy.
Good news for youth: Teen depression dropped from 18.1% (2023) to 15.4% (2024)—the first significant decline in over a decade.
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the U.S., and recent data show its prevalence has been increasing. Understanding the numbers helps highlight where help is needed most. For a broader view of mental health trends in 2025, see our posts on Mental Health Statistics 2025 and anxiety statistics 2025.
Prevalence of Depression
Recent surveys and studies highlight that roughly 1 in 8 to 1 in 5 Americans are experiencing depression symptoms at any given time. A 2025 CDC analysis of 2021–2023 data found that 13.1% of Americans aged 12 and older reported depressive symptoms over the previous two weeks. This rate was much higher in adolescents (19.2% of those aged 12–19) and steadily declined with age. These symptoms are measured by standard screenings (PHQ-9), so "depression" here indicates significant mood symptoms that may constitute a major depressive episode.
For more context on lifetime or long-term depression, Gallup's 2025 national poll found that 29.0% of U.S. adults report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their life. Meanwhile, 18.3% said they currently have depression or are being treated for it—approximately 47.8 million Americans. These figures are the highest recorded in Gallup's trend since 2015, reflecting a sustained rise. Gallup also notes that annual prevalence (a similar measure) was about 8.3% in 2021 (21 million adults), based on the U.S. government's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The variation in these percentages comes from different definitions and time frames (two-week symptoms, past-year episodes, or lifetime diagnoses), but all sources show depression is common and growing.
2026 Depression Statistics at a Glance
Sources: Gallup 2025, CDC 2025, NAMI 2025
Who is Most Affected
Age: Younger Americans are much more likely to report depression. The CDC data (2021–23) show 26.5% of teenage girls (ages 12–19) had depressive symptoms, compared to 12.2% of teenage boys. Among all adults, those 18–25 had the highest past-year depression rate at 18.6%. By contrast, only about 8–9% of adults over 60 reported depression. These patterns suggest today's youth face a much greater mental health burden.
According to Gallup's 2025 data, depression among young adults aged 18-29 has more than doubled—from 13.0% in 2017 to 26.7% in 2025. This means more than 1 in 4 young adults currently has depression or is being treated for it.
Gender: Women report depression at far higher rates than men. Gallup's 2025 poll shows 36.7% of women have ever been diagnosed with depression versus 20.4% of men. Among those currently depressed, 23.8% of women vs 17–18% of men are affected. Similarly, the CDC found 16.0% of women vs 10.1% of men had recent depression symptoms. This gender gap has widened, possibly due to pandemic-related stresses affecting women disproportionately.
Men with depression often show different symptoms—irritability, anger, risk-taking, or physical complaints rather than sadness. This may contribute to underdiagnosis. For more on this topic, see our guide on Anxiety in Men: Why It Often Goes Undiagnosed.
Race/Ethnicity: According to 2021 NIMH data, rates vary by race, with multiracial adults highest (13.9%) and Asian adults lowest (4.8%). However, more recent Gallup polling indicates that depression rates among Black and Hispanic adults have been rising faster and have caught up or exceeded White adults' rates. This may reflect pandemic impacts and social factors.
Note: Men may be underdiagnosed due to different symptom presentation (irritability, anger, risk-taking) and lower help-seeking rates. Source: CDC
Income: The Strongest Predictor
One of the starkest findings in recent depression data is how strongly income predicts mental health outcomes. According to Gallup's 2025 survey, depression rates among adults in households earning less than $24,000 per year have surged from 22.1% in 2017 to 35.1% in 2025—a 13-percentage-point increase in just eight years.
That means more than 1 in 3 low-income Americans currently has depression.
The CDC data shows an even starker contrast by poverty level:
21.1% below the poverty line report depressive symptoms
16.8% at 100-199% of poverty level
10.7% at 200-399% of poverty level
6.8% at 400%+ of the federal poverty level
People living in poverty are more than three times as likely to experience depression as those with higher incomes. Financial stress, limited access to care, unstable housing, and environmental factors all contribute to this disparity.
💰 The Income-Depression Connection
Low-income households (<$24K/year): Depression rates surged from 22.1% (2017) to 35.1% (2025)—more than 1 in 3 adults
Sources: CDC Data Brief 527, Gallup 2025
The Loneliness-Depression Connection
New research from Gallup's 2025 survey reveals a powerful link between loneliness and depression. About 21% of U.S. adults now experience significant daily loneliness—up from 17-18% in 2022-2023.
The connection is striking: among people who report feeling lonely, 33% have depression. Compare that to just 13% among those who don't feel lonely. This suggests loneliness may be both a risk factor for depression and a symptom of it—creating a cycle that's hard to break without support.
The CDC also found that those living alone had higher depression prevalence (17.3%) than those not living alone (11.2%).
The flip side offers hope: people with strong relationships and meaningful social connections have significantly lower depression rates. Therapy approaches that help rebuild social connections—like couples counseling or group therapy—may be especially effective for depression that co-occurs with isolation.
🔗 Loneliness and Depression: The Connection
among lonely
among non-lonely
Source: Gallup 2025
Impact and Severity
Depression has severe consequences for daily life. The CDC report notes that 87.9% of people with depressive symptoms reported at least some difficulty with work, school, family, or social activities due to those symptoms. Even more concerning, 31.2% reported extreme difficulty. In other words, nearly nine in ten Americans with depression find it interferes significantly with their lives.
Treatment access remains limited. Among adults with depression, only 43.0% of women and 33.2% of men said they had received counseling or therapy in the past year. This suggests many struggling people are not getting professional help, and women are somewhat more likely to seek or receive care.
Co-occurring disorders also complicate recovery: about half of those with depression also have an anxiety disorder, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Such comorbidity can worsen symptoms and make treatment more complex. For related statistics, see our post on Anxiety Statistics 2025.
The Depression Treatment Gap
Who's getting help—and who isn't
Additional Treatment Statistics:
Economic and Social Costs
The toll of depression extends beyond individuals to the economy. Depression (and related mood disorders) is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance reports that depression costs the nation roughly $63 billion per year in lost workplace productivity. In addition, depression contributes to high rates of absenteeism and unemployment: adults with mental illness are 3–5 times more likely to be unemployed than those without.
The same report also notes that more than half of students with mental health disorders drop out of high school, further impacting society. NAMI reports that high school students with depression symptoms are more than 2x as likely to drop out compared to their peers.
Trends Over Time
All the data indicate a rising trend in depression. The CDC found that depression prevalence has increased from the early 2010s to the 2021–23 period—a 60% increase from the 8.2% rate recorded in 2013-2014 to 13.1% in 2021-2023. Gallup similarly shows a jump: the lifetime depression diagnosis rate rose from ~20% in 2015 to 29% in 2023-2025. Experts link this rise to factors like the COVID-19 pandemic (which caused social isolation and stress), economic uncertainty, and greater awareness and screening.
Key Groups and Considerations
Young Adults and Teens: This group has seen the steepest increase. Isolation from online schooling and lack of social interaction may be factors. Programs targeting youth mental health are critical.
A Rare Bright Spot: Youth Depression Declining
After years of alarming increases, there's finally some good news. Mental Health America's 2024 report shows youth depression rates have actually decreased:
15.4% of youth (ages 12-17) experienced a major depressive episode in 2024—down from 18.1% in 2023
Suicidal ideation among teens dropped from 12.3% to 10.1%
This marks the first significant decline in over a decade
While these numbers are still concerning, the downward trend suggests that increased awareness, school-based programs, and improved access to teen counseling may be making a difference.
Youth Depression Shows Signs of Improvement
First significant decrease in youth depression rates in over a decade
Source: Mental Health America 2024
Women: Often juggling work, childcare, and economic pressures, women have experienced higher rates of depression, especially during pandemic-related shutdowns. Support and accessible care for women remain priorities. Learn more about therapy for women in our area.
Racial/Ethnic Minorities: Elevated stress from social factors and job loss have led to rising depression rates among Black and Hispanic Americans. Culturally competent mental health resources are needed.
Co-Occurring Anxiety: Given that nearly 1 in 2 depressed individuals also suffer anxiety, it's important for treatment to address both conditions. EMDR therapy can be effective for treating depression that stems from trauma or anxiety.
Colorado Depression Statistics
Since our practice is based in Castle Rock, Colorado, we pay close attention to mental health trends in our state.
America's Health Rankings data shows Colorado ranks 50th out of 51 states and Washington D.C. for overall mental health—meaning only one state (Oregon) has higher rates of mental illness.
Key Colorado statistics:
Colorado ranks 47th for adults with serious thoughts of suicide (approximately 282,000 Coloradans)
47 out of 64 Colorado counties have no practicing child or adolescent psychiatrist
Suicide was the #1 cause of death for Coloradans aged 10-18 from 2015-2019
Some good news for Colorado youth: 60% of Colorado adolescents are now "flourishing" mentally, up from 56.7% in 2024, and Colorado's youth ranking improved to 31st (from 44th in 2024).
These statistics underscore the need for accessible mental health services throughout Colorado's Front Range communities, including Castle Rock, Parker, Highlands Ranch, and the greater South Denver area. If you're struggling with depression in Colorado, help is available. Learn more about our Depression Counseling in Castle Rock.
Colorado Mental Health: By the Numbers
🌟 Good News for Colorado Youth
Source: America's Health Rankings
Getting Help for Depression
Depression is treatable. Most people who receive appropriate care see significant improvement. If you're experiencing symptoms of depression—persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, or thoughts of self-harm—reaching out for help is the first step.
Our Castle Rock therapists specialize in treating depression using evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and EMDR for depression related to trauma.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) for free, confidential support 24/7.
Ready to Take the First Step?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of Americans have depression in 2026?
According to Gallup's 2025 survey, 18.3% of U.S. adults currently have depression or are being treated for it—approximately 47.8 million Americans. This is the highest rate ever recorded. Additionally, 29% of adults have been diagnosed at some point in their lives.
What age group has the highest depression rate?
Young adults aged 18-29 have the highest rates at 26.7%—more than double the 13.0% rate from 2017. The CDC found that adolescents aged 12-19 have a 19.2% prevalence rate of depressive symptoms.
Are depression rates increasing or decreasing?
Overall, depression has increased significantly—a 60% increase from 2013-2014 to 2021-2023. However, there's good news for youth: teen depression dropped from 18.1% in 2023 to 15.4% in 2024, the first significant decline in over a decade.
How does income affect depression rates?
Income is one of the strongest predictors of depression. 35.1% of low-income adults (<$24K/year) have depression—up from 22.1% in 2017. People below the poverty line are 3x more likely to experience depression than those with higher incomes.
How does loneliness relate to depression?
Gallup's 2025 data shows 33% of lonely adults have depression vs. just 13% among non-lonely adults. About 21% of Americans now experience significant daily loneliness—up from 17-18% in 2022-2023.
Do most people with depression get treatment?
No. While 88% report depression interferes with daily life, only 43% of women and 33% of men received therapy in the past year. The average delay between symptoms starting and getting treatment is 11 years.
For more mental health insights, see related posts on Mental Health Statistics 2025, Anxiety Statistics 2025, and Suicide Statistics 2025
Sources: Latest U.S. data from the CDC, Gallup, NIMH/NSDUH, ADAA, DBSA, NAMI, and Mental Health America (2024-2025).
