Lancet Study: 1.2 Billion People Living with Mental Disorders, Cases Nearly Doubled Since 1990
A major study published in The Lancet in May 2026 found that approximately 1.2 billion people worldwide were living with mental health disorders in 2023. That figure represents a 95 percent increase since 1990. Anxiety disorders rose by 158 percent and depression by 131 percent over the same period. Researchers called the findings an urgent wake-up call for governments to invest in mental health services.
A study published in The Lancet in May 2026 found that roughly 1.2 billion people, about 14 percent of the global population, were living with at least one mental health disorder in 2023. The number has nearly doubled since 1990.
Researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and the University of Queensland analyzed data on 12 psychiatric disorders across 204 countries and territories. They tracked cases across 25 age groups and 21 world regions between 1990 and 2023.
Anxiety disorders saw the sharpest increase, rising 158 percent over the study period. Major depressive disorder climbed 131 percent. Mental disorders now account for more than 17 percent of all years lived with disability globally and rank as the fifth-largest cause of healthy life years lost worldwide, up from 12th place in 1990.
The study found that the burden of anxiety and depression has shifted toward younger people. The peak age group affected is now 15 to 39, a change from historical patterns. Researchers said the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, with anxiety and depression rates remaining elevated years after the acute phase of the crisis.
Women carry a higher overall burden than men. The study counted 620 million women and 552 million men affected in 2023. Researchers attributed the gender gap to higher rates of domestic and sexual violence, caregiving responsibilities, and structural inequalities.
The treatment gap is severe. Only about nine percent of people with major depressive disorder worldwide receive minimally adequate care. In 90 countries, fewer than five percent of those with depression get adequate treatment. Only a small group of high-income nations, including Australia, Canada, Germany, and South Korea, report treatment rates above 30 percent.
Lead researchers issued what they called "an unequivocal wake-up call" to governments, urging sustained investment in mental health systems and early-intervention policies.
