Anxiety Statistics (2022)

Stress can make people feel anxious, but it can also be a good thing. It can tell us about things that could go wrong and help us get ready and pay attention.

Anxiety disorders are different from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiety because they cause a lot of fear or anxiety to happen. 

About 30% of adults have anxiety disorders at some point in their lives. They are the most common mental disorders.

But anxiety disorders can be treated, and there are a lot of effective ways to do that, so it’s not impossible. Most people can lead normal, productive lives after getting medical help, but not everyone can.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is the anticipatory fear of a future problem and is more closely related to muscle tension and avoidance behavior. 

Fear is an emotional reaction to a perceived threat and is more closely related to a fight or flight response – either remaining to fight or fleeing to avoid danger. 

Individuals suffering from anxiety disorders may attempt to avoid circumstances that trigger or exacerbate their symptoms. Job performance, academic performance, and personal relationships may all be impacted.

In general, for someone to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, the fear or worry must satisfy the following criteria: 

1. Be out of proportion to the issue or be out of step with your age 
2. Impair ability to function in a normal manner. 

Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, particular phobias, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder are all types of anxiety disorders.

Unfortunately, the exact causes of anxiety disorders are still a mystery. Genetics and environmental influences are only a few of the many possibilities. Anxiety disorders can run in families, indicating that a mix of genetics and stressors in the environment is to blame.

Anxiety Disorders Statistics

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic’s disastrous ripple effect, which has disproportionately affected women and young people, increased rates of depression and anxiety over the world by almost 25%. 

Following an exhaustive assessment of data from numerous studies, researchers calculated that the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders has grown by 28% and 26%, respectively since last year’s pandemic began. 

According to the World Health Organization, tens of millions more people are suffering from depression and anxiety than there were in 2010.

After accounting for the pandemic-related increase. Researchers have calculated that there would be 3,153 new instances of major depression and 4,802 new cases of anxiety disorders per 100,000 persons worldwide in 2020.

How Prevalent Is Anxiety? 

• 62% of respondents to a 2020 survey acknowledged feeling anxious at some point in their lives (2020, SingularCare).
• At some point in their lives, an estimated 31% of adults will suffer from an anxiety problem (The American Association for the Study of Anxiety and Depression, 2020). 
• Between 2001 and 2003, an estimated 19.1% of adults in the United States suffered from an anxiety disorder (Harvard School of Medicine, 2007). 
• Among the United States and throughout the world, anxiety disorders are more prevalent in women than men (National Institute of Mental Health 2018).
• Specific phobias are the most prevalent anxiety disorder in adults in the United States, impacting over 19 million people (ADAA 2020).

Global Statistics On Anxiety 

• Worldwide, anxiety is estimated to affect 264 million persons (WHO, 2017). 
• 179 million (63%) of these adults were female, whereas 105 million (35%) were male (37%) (Data Visualization of Our World, 2018).
• Between 1990 and 2013, the worldwide prevalence of all mental disorders grew by 50%, from 416 to 615 million (WHO, 2016). 

Anxiety Statistics in the United States

The following data pertain to individuals in the United States of America only: 

Anxiety, which affects 40 million adults in the United States, is the most prevalent mental disorder (ADAA 2020. Mental illness has a high frequency in Oregon (22.66%), with the lowest prevalence in Florida of 16.03% (American Association for Mental Health, 2017). 

Adults with anxiety are more likely to have a mild impairment (43.5%), a moderate impairment (33.7%), or a severe impairment, 22.8% (National Institute of Mental Health 2017). Almost half of the poll respondents (47%) report experiencing anxiety regularly (2020, SingularCare).

Specific phobias affect around 19 million adults in the United States, making them the most prevalent anxiety disorder (ADAA, 2020) 

According to ADAA, adults with social anxiety account for 15 million. Adults who suffer from PTSD account for 7.7 million. Generalized anxiety affects 6.8 million adults. Adults with panic disorders account for around six million. 

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD affects 6.8 million individuals, or 3.1% of the adult population in the United States, although only 43.2% receive therapy. Women are impacted at a rate twice that of men. GAD is frequently found in conjunction with major depressive disorder. 

• Panic Disorder (PD)

6 million individuals, or 2.7% of the population in the United States, are affected by PD. Women are impacted at a rate twice that of men. 

• Social Anxiety Disorder 

SAD affects approximately 15 million individuals or 6.8% of the adult population in the United States. SAD affects males and women equally and often manifests itself around the age of 13. According to a 2007 ADAA poll, 36% of individuals diagnosed with social anxiety disorder report enduring symptoms for ten years or more before seeking care. 

• Specific Phobias 

There are 19 million persons in the United States who suffer from specific phobias, accounting for 8.7% of the population. Women are impacted at a rate twice that of men. Typically, symptoms begin in childhood; the average age of start is seven years. 

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

7.7 million adults, or 3.5% of the adult population in the United States, suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Females are more prone than males to be afflicted. 

Rape is the most common cause of PTSD, accounting for 65% of men and 45.9% of women who are raped. Sexual abuse in childhood is a powerful predictor of the lifelong risk of getting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

• Major Depressive Disorder 

The top cause of impairment in the United States of America for individuals aged 15 to 44.  MDD affects over 16.1 million American adults or around 6.7% of the adult population in the United States of America. 

While serious depression can strike at any age, the median age of onset is 32.5 years. Females are more likely to suffer from this disorder than males. 

Statistics On Anxiety By Sex 

• Females are more likely to suffer from anxiety problems than males. 
• Female adults experience anxiety at a rate of 23%, whereas male adults experience anxiety at a rate of 14% (National Institute of Mental Health, 2017).
• Female adolescents are also more anxious than male adolescents (aged 13 to 18). 
• Between 2001 and 2004, 38% of female adolescents and 26.1% of male adolescents had an anxiety condition (Archives of General Psychiatry).
• Women are twice as likely as males to suffer from generalized anxiety (ADAA, 2020). 
• OCD is equally prevalent in men and women, affecting 2.2 million individuals (ADAA, 2020). 

Statistics On Anxiety By Age 

The following statistics pertain to residents of the United States: 

• Between 2001 and 2004, nearly one-third (31.9%) of adolescents (ages 13-18) had an anxiety condition. 
• The 17- to 18-year-old age group was the most affected. (2005) (Archives of General Psychiatry) 
• Generalized anxiety was found to affect more than twice as many persons aged 26 to 49 as those aged 50 or older. (SAMHSA, 2014). 
• As of 2017, the 30- to 44-year-old age group was most likely to suffer from anxiety disorders, followed by 22.3% of 18- to 29-year-olds and 20.6%of 45- to 59-year-olds (National Institute of Mental Health, 2017).
• As of 2017, those aged 60 and over were the least affected age group (National Institute of Mental Health, 2017).

Statistics On Anxiety By Educational Level 

Americans with a greater level of education have a lower risk of developing an anxiety illness.

Anxiety affects 3.9 million adults with less than high school education, 3.3 million adults with a high school diploma, 2.8 million adults with some college, and 3 million adults with a college degree or above. (SAMHSA, 2016). 

According to one Canadian study, persons were 15% more likely to consult a psychiatrist for each extra degree of schooling (2007, Health Care Policy).

In college, anxiety is the primary worry for counseling services. 41.6% of college students who seek counseling do so for anxiety (Association for the Directors of University and College Counseling Centers, 2012).

How To Manage Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are extremely treatable, yet only 36.9% of those who suffer from them get therapy. Anxiety can be alleviated in three primary ways. 

Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy or counseling, can occur in a variety of ways. An individual or group-based training can be given online, over the phone, or in person.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a highly effective treatment for anxiety (CBT) as this aids patients in better comprehending the thoughts and feelings that drive their actions. 

CBT is typically completed in a period of 12 to 16 weeks. Continual practice will help the patient develop coping mechanisms that assist him or her deal with anxiety better in the long term. 

Another option for managing anxiety symptoms is to take medication. Drugs and therapy are often used in tandem to treat a condition. There are four primary groups of medications that can be prescribed by a doctor to alleviate anxiety.

Make an appointment with your doctor to rule out a physical cause for the symptoms you’re having. An anxiety problem can be treated with the help of a mental health expert. 

There are a variety of ways to deal with the symptoms of anxiety disorders and make treatment more effective, such as taking medication and exercising. Techniques for reducing tension, such as yoga and meditation, may be beneficial.

In-person or online support groups can allow people to discuss their experiences and coping skills. Learning more about a disorder’s intricacies and helping loved ones better comprehend it can also be helpful. 

Conclusion

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental ailment in the United States, affecting 40 million persons aged 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population. Although anxiety disorders are extremely curable, only 36.9% of persons who suffer from them obtain treatment. 

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of mortality in the United States, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention In 2017, about 1.4 million Americans tried suicide, and 47,173 died by suicide.

Anxiety disorders appear to be statistically significant but poor predictors of suicidal thoughts or attempts. According to another study, suicidal thought is linked to anxiety and PTSD.

If you need help, you can reach out to the ADAA’s suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or the organization’s website.