Statistics about Depression

Prevalence and incidence statistics for Depression:

see also prevalence and incidence page for Depression

Prevalance of Depression: estimated 5.3% adults (USSG); 17 million people; approximately 4% of adolescents get seriously depressed (NIMH); annually 12% of women ; 7% of men; lifetime risk of an episode for women 20%. 3-4 million men USA.

Prevalance Rate: approx 1 in 18 or 5.30% or 14.4 million people in USA [about data]

Lifetime risk for Depression: 7.9-8.6% of adults will have major depression during their lifetime in Canada (Health Canada)

Prevelance statistics about Depression:

The following statistics relate to the prevalence of Depression:

• 6.5% of women have a major depressive disorder in the US (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)
• 3.3% of men have a major depressive disorder in the US (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)
• 6.7 million women have a major depressive disorder in the US 1998 (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)
• 3.2 million men have a major depressive disorder in the US 1998 (National Institute of Mental Health, NIH)
• 4-5% of population have major depression in Canada (National Population Health Survey, Health Canada)

Society statistics for Depression

Hospitalization statistics for Depression:

The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Depression:

• Average 15.2 hospital days per case in Canada 1999 (Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada)
• 80 per 100,000 population hospitalizations in Canada 1999 (Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada)
• 60 men per 100,000 population hospitalizations in Canada 1999 (Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada)
• 100 women per 100,000 population hospitalizations in Canada 1999 (Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada)
• 0.2% (25,852) of hospital consultant episodes were for depressive episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 93% of hospital consultant episodes for depressive episodes required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 39% of hospital consultant episodes for depressive episodes were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 41% of hospital consultant episodes for depressive episodes were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 70% of hospital consultant episodes for depressive episodes required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 39.5 days was the mean length of stay in hospitals for depressive episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 21 days was the median length of stay in hospitals for depressive episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 52 was the mean age of patients hospitalised for depressive episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 62% of hospital consultant episodes for depressive episodes occurred in 15-59 year olds in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 20% of hospital consultant episodes for depressive episodes occurred in people over 75 in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 3% of hospital consultant episodes for depressive episodes were single day episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 1.51% (793,979) of hospital bed days were for depressive episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 0.07% (8,598) of hospital consultant episodes were for recurrent depressive disorder in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 93% of hospital consultant episodes for recurrent depressive disorder required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 30% of hospital consultant episodes for recurrent depressive disorder were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 70% of hospital consultant episodes for recurrent depressive disorder were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 65% of hospital consultant episodes for recurrent depressive disorder required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 50.2 days was the mean length of stay in hospitals for recurrent depressive disorder in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 28 days was the median length of stay in hospitals for recurrent depressive disorder in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 55 was the mean age of patients hospitalised for recurrent depressive disorder in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 59% of hospital consultant episodes for recurrent depressive disorder occurred in 15-59 year olds in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 19% of hospital consultant episodes for recurrent depressive disorder occurred in people over 75 in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 2% of hospital consultant episodes for recurrent depressive disorder were single day episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 0.63% (332,004) of hospital bed days were for recurrent depressive disorder in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)

About statistics:

This page presents a variety of statistics about Depression. The term 'prevalence' of Depression usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Depression at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Depression refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Depression diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.