Are Depression Rates Increasing?
Recent studies and surveys have shown a significant rise in depression rates across various demographics in the U.S., with the highest increases recorded among women, young adults, and minority groups. According to data from Gallup, both lifetime and current depression rates have hit new highs, raising concerns about mental health trends.
U.S. Depression Rates Reach New Highs
The percentage of U.S. adults diagnosed with depression in their lifetime has risen to 29.0% in 2023, nearly 10 percentage points higher than in 2015. Similarly, the percentage of adults currently dealing with or being treated for depression has grown to 17.8%. Both rates are the highest ever recorded by Gallup since the beginning of this data collection in 2015.
The most recent data was collected from 5,167 U.S. adults between February 21-28, 2023, as part of the Gallup Panel, a probability-based group of about 100,000 adults across the U.S. The survey asked respondents two key questions: “Has a doctor or nurse ever told you that you have depression?” and “Do you currently have or are you currently being treated for depression?”
Key Statistics
The following table shows the increase in depression rates between 2017 and 2023, broken down by various demographic groups:
| Diagnosed with Depression in Lifetime | Currently Have/Treated for Depression | 2017 (%) | 2023 (%) | Change (pct. pts.) | 2017 (%) | 2023 (%) | Change (pct. pts.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. adults | 20.6 | 29.0 | 8.4 | 13.5 | 17.8 | 4.3 | |
| Gender | |||||||
| Men | 14.7 | 20.4 | 5.7 | 9.3 | 11.3 | 2.0 | |
| Women | 26.2 | 36.7 | 10.5 | 17.6 | 23.8 | 6.2 | |
| Age | |||||||
| 18 to 29 | 20.4 | 34.3 | 13.9 | 13.0 | 24.6 | 11.6 | |
| 30 to 44 | 22.3 | 34.9 | 12.6 | 14.2 | 20.7 | 6.5 | |
| 45 to 64 | 20.4 | 26.1 | 5.7 | 14.0 | 16.2 | 2.2 | |
| 65 and older | 19.3 | 21.3 | 2.0 | 12.1 | 11.9 | -0.2 | |
| Race/Ethnicity | |||||||
| Black adults | 20.1 | 34.4 | 14.3 | 12.3 | 15.9 | 3.6 | |
| Hispanic adults | 18.4 | 31.3 | 12.9 | 13.0 | 18.8 | 5.8 | |
| White adults | 22.3 | 29.0 | 6.7 | 14.7 | 18.2 | 3.5 |
Factors Contributing to the Rise
Several factors have contributed to the increase in depression rates, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted mental health. Social isolation, economic hardship, and disruptions in daily life have led to heightened anxiety and depression. The pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on women, young adults, and people of color, exacerbating existing inequalities in mental health.
The rising rates of depression in the U.S. highlight the need for increased attention to mental health support, particularly for the most affected groups: women, young adults, and racial minorities. Efforts to address these mental health disparities are crucial to reducing the overall burden of depression in society.
