In the United States, an estimated 8.2% of adults — about 21.4 million people — had at least one major depressive episode in the past year, according to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (SAMHSA, 2025). Among adolescents ages 12 to 17, the figure is far higher: 15.4%, or roughly 3.8 million teens. Worldwide, the picture is larger still — the World Health Organization estimates that about 332 million people were living with depression in 2021 (WHO, 2025).
Those numbers make depression one of the most common health conditions in the country and on the planet. But a single headline figure hides a great deal of variation. Rates differ sharply by age and sex, by how severe the episode is, and by which form of depression a person has — from time-limited major depressive episodes to the low-grade, years-long weight of persistent depressive disorder.
This article breaks the numbers down by population, severity, treatment, and subtype, drawing on the most recent federal survey data from SAMHSA and the National Institute of Mental Health, plus global estimates from the WHO.
How Many U.S. Adults Have Depression?
The clearest single answer comes from the annual NSDUH, which measures past-year major depressive episodes (MDE) — a period of at least two weeks of depressed mood or loss of interest, along with other symptoms.
In 2024, 8.2% of adults 18 and older — an estimated 21.4 million people — had a past-year MDE (SAMHSA, 2025). That supersedes the older 8.3% / 21.0 million figure from earlier survey years and reflects the current best national estimate.
Depression is not evenly distributed across the adult population. Using NIMH’s 2021 breakdown, the differences by sex and age are stark:
| Adult group (2021) | Past-year MDE prevalence |
|---|---|
| Female | 10.3% |
| Male | 6.2% |
| Ages 18–25 | 18.6% |
| Ages 26–49 | 9.3% |
| Ages 50+ | 4.5% |
Women are diagnosed with depression at roughly 1.7 times the rate of men, a gap seen across nearly every age group and reflected on our women and men population pages. Age is just as powerful a factor: young adults ages 18 to 25 report depression at more than four times the rate of adults 50 and older.
Prevalence also varies by race and ethnicity (NIMH, 2023):
| Race/ethnicity (2021) | Past-year MDE prevalence |
|---|---|
| Two or more races | 13.9% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 11.2% |
| White | 8.9% |
| Hispanic | 7.9% |
| Black | 6.7% |
| Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander | 5.1% |
| Asian | 4.8% |
How Many Adolescents Have Depression?
Depression is even more common among teenagers than adults. In 2024, 15.4% of adolescents ages 12 to 17 — an estimated 3.8 million — had a past-year major depressive episode (SAMHSA, 2025).
That represents a notable decline from recent peaks. In 2021, the adolescent rate was 20.8%, or about 5.2 million teens. Adolescent MDE with severe impairment fell over the same period, from 15.2% (3.8 million) in 2021 to 11.3% (2.8 million) in 2024. One important caveat: SAMHSA notes that changes in survey methodology affect the comparability of estimates across some years, but the 2021 and 2024 figures were designed to be comparable to each other, so the downward movement between those two years is meaningful.
Within the adolescent population, the sex and age gaps are dramatic (NIMH, 2023):
| Adolescent group (2021) | Past-year MDE prevalence |
|---|---|
| Female | 29.2% |
| Male | 11.5% |
| Ages 12–13 | 13.0% |
| Ages 14–15 | 20.7% |
| Ages 16–17 | 26.8% |
Adolescent girls report depression at roughly 2.5 times the rate of boys, and prevalence climbs steadily with age through the teen years. Our teens population page tracks these trends in more detail.
Severity and Impairment
Not every depressive episode carries the same weight. NIMH separates out cases involving severe impairment — episodes that substantially interfere with a person’s ability to work, study, or manage daily life.
Among adults, 5.7% — an estimated 14.5 million — had a major depressive episode with severe impairment in 2021, the most recent figure on NIMH’s page (NIMH, 2023). That means roughly two out of every three adults with depression experienced impairment serious enough to disrupt major life activities. Among adolescents, 11.3% had an MDE with severe impairment in 2024 (SAMHSA, 2025).
Because depression is closely tied to suicide risk, these severity figures matter beyond the clinic. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. For the connection between depression and suicide, see our suicide statistics in the US overview.
How Many People With Depression Get Treatment?
Prevalence tells only half the story; treatment tells the other. The good news is that a majority of people with depression do receive some form of care, though large gaps remain.
Among adults with a past-year major depressive episode, 61.0% received treatment in 2021, rising to 74.8% among those with severe impairment (NIMH, 2023). Among adolescents with a past-year MDE, 60.6% received treatment in 2024 — about 2.3 million of the 3.8 million affected (SAMHSA, 2025). That still leaves roughly four in ten young people with depression receiving no treatment at all in a given year.
Types of Depression and How Common Each Is
“Depression” is an umbrella term. The headline prevalence numbers above measure major depressive episodes, but several distinct conditions fall under the depressive-disorder category, each with its own prevalence and course.
| Subtype | Prevalence | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Major depressive disorder (past-year MDE, adults) | 8.2% / 21.4 million | SAMHSA, 2025 |
| Persistent depressive disorder (past-year, adults) | 1.5% (2.5% lifetime) | NIMH, NCS-R |
| Seasonal affective disorder | ”Millions of Americans” (no federal %) | NIMH |
| Treatment-resistant depression | ~30% of people with depression | McIntyre et al., 2023 |
Major depressive disorder
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the clinical diagnosis behind most depression statistics — the recurring or single-episode condition captured by the 8.2% / 21.4 million adult figure. It is the most common depressive disorder and the one federal surveys track most closely.
Persistent depressive disorder
Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) is a chronic, lower-grade form of depression lasting two years or more. NIMH estimates that 1.5% of adults had past-year persistent depressive disorder, with a lifetime prevalence of 2.5%. These estimates come from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication — the most recent nationally representative diagnostic-interview data NIMH publishes for this condition, collected between 2001 and 2003, so they should be read as the best available diagnostic benchmark rather than current-year figures.
Seasonal affective disorder
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is depression that follows a seasonal pattern, typically emerging in the fall and winter months. There is no official federal prevalence percentage for SAD; NIMH describes it as affecting “millions of Americans” each year, and notes that it is far more common in northern latitudes with shorter winter days (NIMH). Any specific percentage circulating online for SAD should be treated with caution, as the federal source does not publish one.
Treatment-resistant depression
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) describes major depression that does not respond adequately to standard treatments — typically defined as failure to respond to at least two adequate courses of antidepressant therapy. A 2023 review in World Psychiatry estimated that at least about 30% of people with depression meet criteria for treatment resistance (McIntyre et al., 2023), making it a substantial subgroup with distinct clinical needs.
Global Depression Statistics
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 332 million people were living with depression in 2021 — about 5.7% of the global adult population (WHO, 2025).
The same sex gap seen in the United States appears globally: depression affected an estimated 6.9% of adult women and 4.6% of adult men worldwide. Because depression is both common and treatable yet frequently goes unaddressed, the WHO continues to rank it among the top contributors to the global burden of disease.
| Population | Depression prevalence |
|---|---|
| U.S. adults (past-year MDE) | 8.2% (21.4 million) |
| U.S. adolescents 12–17 (past-year MDE) | 15.4% (3.8 million) |
| Global adults | 5.7% (~332 million) |
| Global women | 6.9% |
| Global men | 4.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have depression?
In the United States, an estimated 8.2% of adults — about 21.4 million people — had a major depressive episode in the past year (SAMHSA, 2025), along with 15.4% of adolescents (about 3.8 million). Worldwide, the WHO estimates roughly 332 million people live with depression (WHO, 2025).
Is depression more common in men or women?
Women. Among U.S. adults, 10.3% of women had a past-year major depressive episode compared with 6.2% of men — roughly a 1.7-to-1 ratio (NIMH, 2023). The same gap appears globally, at about 6.9% of women versus 4.6% of men (WHO, 2025).
Which age group has the highest rate of depression?
Young adults ages 18 to 25 have the highest adult rate, at 18.6%, compared with 4.5% for adults 50 and older (NIMH, 2023). Adolescents ages 16 to 17 report even higher rates, at 26.8%.
Is teen depression rising or falling?
Adolescent depression has declined recently, from 20.8% (5.2 million) in 2021 to 15.4% (3.8 million) in 2024 (SAMHSA, 2025). SAMHSA cautions that survey-method changes limit comparability across some years, but the 2021 and 2024 estimates were built to be compared with each other.
How many people with depression get treatment?
Among U.S. adults with a past-year major depressive episode, 61.0% received treatment, rising to 74.8% among those with severe impairment (NIMH, 2023). Among adolescents with depression, 60.6% received treatment in 2024 (SAMHSA, 2025).
What is the most common type of depression?
Major depressive disorder is the most common, accounting for the 21.4 million adult past-year cases. Persistent depressive disorder affects about 1.5% of adults in a given year, and roughly 30% of people with depression have treatment-resistant depression (McIntyre et al., 2023).
Sources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Highlights. SAMHSA; 2025. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH%202024%20Annual%20Release/2024-nsduh-nnr-highlights.pdf
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Annual National Report. SAMHSA; 2025. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt56287/2024-nsduh-annual-national-report.pdf
- National Institute of Mental Health. Major Depression. NIMH; updated 2023. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
- National Institute of Mental Health. Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymic Disorder). NIMH. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/persistent-depressive-disorder-dysthymic-disorder
- National Institute of Mental Health. Seasonal Affective Disorder. NIMH. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder
- McIntyre RS, et al. Treatment-resistant depression: definition, prevalence, detection, management. World Psychiatry. 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10503923/
- World Health Organization. Depressive disorder (depression) — Fact sheet. WHO; 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression