About 1 in 8 women who recently gave birth in the United States report symptoms of postpartum depression. In its most recent national analysis, the CDC found that 13.2% of women with a recent live birth experienced postpartum depressive symptoms — a figure drawn from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), the agency’s large state-based survey of new mothers (CDC, 2020).
That national average conceals wide variation. Across the states measured, the share of new mothers reporting postpartum depressive symptoms ranged from 9.7% in the lowest state to 23.5% in the highest — meaning that in some places, closer to 1 in 4 women were affected. Postpartum depression is not a rare complication or a personal failing; it is one of the most common medical conditions associated with childbirth, and it is treatable.
This article walks through what the federal data show: how common postpartum depression is, how the numbers have changed over time, where the gaps in screening remain, and which groups of new mothers carry the highest risk.
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.
How Common Is Postpartum Depression?
The clearest national estimate comes from CDC PRAMS, which asks women who have recently given birth about depressive symptoms in the months after delivery. In the 2018 data, 13.2% of respondents — about 1 in 8 — reported postpartum depressive symptoms (CDC, 2020).
Postpartum depression is a form of depression that develops during pregnancy or in the year after birth. It is distinct from the short-lived “baby blues” that many new parents feel in the first days postpartum; postpartum depression is more intense, lasts longer, and can interfere with a mother’s ability to care for herself and her baby. It sits within the broader category of perinatal depression, which affects roughly 1 in 7 people during pregnancy or the first postpartum year (Carlson et al., 2025).
Because prevalence varies so much by geography, a single number can be misleading. The 2018 PRAMS data put the state range at 9.7% (lowest) to 23.5% (highest) — a gap that reflects differences in state populations, screening practices, and access to care rather than any single cause. Our postpartum and pregnant population pages track these maternal mental health measures in more detail.
The Trend: Postpartum Depression Is Rising
Postpartum depressive symptoms have been increasing, not holding steady. Between 2012 and 2018, PRAMS recorded a statistically significant increase of about 0.22 percentage points per year in the share of new mothers reporting postpartum depressive symptoms (CDC, 2020). Earlier PRAMS analyses had already tracked these symptoms across 2004, 2008, and 2012, establishing the baseline against which the more recent rise is measured (CDC, 2017).
A parallel signal appears in clinical records. The CDC reports that recorded depression diagnoses at the time of delivery were seven times higher in 2015 than in 2000 (CDC, 2024). Part of that increase almost certainly reflects better recognition — providers asking about and documenting depression more consistently than they did two decades ago — rather than a sevenfold rise in the underlying condition alone. But taken together, the survey and diagnostic data point the same direction: more new mothers are experiencing, and being identified with, postpartum depression than in the past.
Screening Gaps: Many Women Are Never Asked
Screening is the front door to treatment, and it is only partly open. Clinical guidelines call for asking about depression during both prenatal and postpartum care, yet the PRAMS data show many women are never asked at all.
| Care visit | Share asked about depression | Share not asked |
|---|---|---|
| During pregnancy (prenatal care) | 79.1% | About 1 in 5 |
| Postpartum checkup | 87.4% | About 1 in 8 |
Among women who received prenatal care, 79.1% were asked about depression during pregnancy — meaning roughly 1 in 5 were not (CDC, 2020). At the postpartum visit, 87.4% of attendees were asked, leaving about 1 in 8 who were not. Those gaps matter because a mother who is never asked is far less likely to be diagnosed, referred, or treated. The problem compounds for women who miss the postpartum visit entirely, who are absent from that 87.4% figure altogether.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Postpartum depression does not fall evenly across new mothers. The PRAMS data reveal sharp disparities by age, race and ethnicity, education, and — most powerfully — prior mental health history.
By age
Younger mothers report postpartum depressive symptoms at much higher rates than older mothers. The risk is highest among teens and falls steadily with age.
| Maternal age | Postpartum depressive symptoms |
|---|---|
| 19 or younger | 22.2% |
| 20–24 | 17.8% |
| 25–34 | 11.9% |
| 35 or older | 10.8% |
Mothers age 19 and under reported symptoms at more than twice the rate of mothers 35 and older (CDC, 2020).
By race and ethnicity
Disparities by race and ethnicity are equally striking, with several groups reporting symptoms well above the national average.
| Race/ethnicity | Postpartum depressive symptoms |
|---|---|
| American Indian / Alaska Native | Over 20% |
| Asian / Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic) | 19.2% |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 18.2% |
| Hispanic | 12.0% |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 11.4% |
American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Black mothers all reported postpartum depressive symptoms at markedly higher rates than White mothers (CDC, 2020). These gaps echo broader patterns of unequal access to and quality of maternal care, and they underscore why national averages alone can obscure who is most affected among women.
By education and prior depression
Two further factors stand out. Mothers with less than a high school education reported symptoms at 17.8%, compared with 11.2% among those with more than a high school education. But the single strongest predictor in the data is a history of depression: 28.7% of mothers with prior depression reported postpartum depressive symptoms, versus 10.6% of those without — nearly a threefold difference (CDC, 2020).
| Risk factor | Postpartum depressive symptoms |
|---|---|
| Prior depression | 28.7% |
| No prior depression | 10.6% |
| Education under 12 years | 17.8% |
| Education over 12 years | 11.2% |
That prior-depression finding is a practical one: it means a mother’s mental health history is one of the most useful things a provider can know going into pregnancy and the postpartum period. For the bigger picture of how depression is distributed across the population, see our overview of how many people have depression.
Postpartum Anxiety: Common but Undercounted
Depression is not the only mood condition that follows childbirth. Postpartum and perinatal anxiety is also common — and, importantly, there is no single CDC national prevalence figure for it, which means it is often undercounted in headline maternal mental health statistics.
The best available estimates come from the peer-reviewed literature. Perinatal anxiety is estimated to affect approximately 11% to 21% of people during pregnancy or the postpartum period (JOGNN, 2022). Because anxiety frequently occurs alongside depression, a mother screened only for depressive symptoms may have a significant anxiety condition go unrecognized. These figures should be read as peer-reviewed estimates rather than official federal surveillance data.
For a fuller treatment of anxiety, depression, mortality, and the systems that surround new mothers, see our companion overview of maternal mental health statistics.
What the Numbers Mean
Read together, the data tell a consistent story. Postpartum depression is common — about 1 in 8 new mothers nationally, and closer to 1 in 4 in the hardest-hit states. It has been rising over the past decade. Screening reaches most, but not all, new mothers, and the women least likely to be asked are often those at highest risk. Risk concentrates among younger mothers, several racial and ethnic groups, mothers with less education, and above all mothers with a prior history of depression.
None of these figures describe a condition that is anyone’s fault. Postpartum depression is a recognized, treatable medical condition, and the value of measuring it precisely is that it points toward where screening, support, and treatment can do the most good.
Frequently Asked Questions
How common is postpartum depression?
About 1 in 8 U.S. women who recently gave birth — 13.2% — report postpartum depressive symptoms, according to CDC PRAMS data (CDC, 2020). Across states, the figure ranges from 9.7% to 23.5%.
Is postpartum depression becoming more common?
Yes. Between 2012 and 2018, PRAMS recorded a statistically significant increase of about 0.22 percentage points per year in postpartum depressive symptoms, and recorded depression diagnoses at delivery were seven times higher in 2015 than in 2000 (CDC, 2020; CDC, 2024).
Who is most at risk for postpartum depression?
Risk is highest among mothers age 19 and younger (22.2%) and, most strongly, among mothers with a prior history of depression (28.7% versus 10.6% without). American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Black mothers also report higher-than-average rates (CDC, 2020).
Are new mothers routinely screened for depression?
Not universally. About 79.1% of women who received prenatal care were asked about depression during pregnancy, and 87.4% were asked at their postpartum visit — leaving roughly 1 in 5 unasked prenatally and about 1 in 8 unasked postpartum (CDC, 2020).
How common is postpartum anxiety?
Peer-reviewed estimates put perinatal anxiety at approximately 11% to 21% of people during pregnancy or the postpartum period (JOGNN, 2022). There is no single CDC national prevalence figure for postpartum anxiety, so it is often undercounted.
What is the difference between postpartum depression and the baby blues?
The “baby blues” are mild mood changes that resolve within a couple of weeks of birth. Postpartum depression is more severe and longer lasting, can interfere with daily functioning and caregiving, and benefits from evaluation and treatment.
Sources
- Bauman BL, et al. Vital Signs: Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Provider Discussions About Perinatal Depression — United States, 2018. MMWR. 2020;69(19):575-581. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6919a2.htm
- Ko JY, et al. Trends in Postpartum Depressive Symptoms — 27 States, 2004, 2008, and 2012. MMWR. 2017;66(6). https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6606a1.htm
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Depression Among Women (Reproductive Health). CDC; 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/depression/index.html
- Carlson K, et al. Perinatal Depression. StatPearls, NIH/NCBI. 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519070/
- Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. JOGNN. 2022. https://www.jognn.org/article/S0884-2175(22)00037-5/pdf