Global mental disorder cases increased 95.5% from 1990 to 2023, reaching 1.17 billion prevalent cases, with age-standardised prevalence rising 24.2% to 14,211 cases per 100,000 population.
- Mental disorders affected 1.17 billion people globally in 2023, up 95.5% since 1990
- Mental disorders ranked as the 5th leading cause of global disability-adjusted life-years in 2023
- Age-standardised prevalence rates peaked in 15–19 year olds at 2,617 per 100,000 population
How this compares to prior research
Prior to this study, mental disorders were recognised as a significant global health concern, but comprehensive trend data across all countries was limited. Earlier GBD iterations showed mental disorders as a leading cause of disability, but the magnitude of increase over three decades had not been fully quantified. This study confirms that mental health burden has grown substantially faster than previously documented, with mental disorders rising from 12th to 5th leading cause of DALYs globally between 1990 and 2023.
Mental disorder prevalence trends globally, 1990–2023
Key findings
- Mental disorders caused 171 million disability-adjusted life-years globally in 2023, accounting for 6.1% of all-cause DALYs and ranking as the fifth leading cause worldwide
- Anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia were the top three contributors to mental disorder burden, ranking 11th, 15th, and 41st among all diseases globally
- All 204 countries and territories showed increased mental disorder burden in 2023 versus 1990, with rates ranging from 1,302 per 100,000 in Vietnam to 3,556 per 100,000 in the Netherlands
What this means in practice
- Ask your doctor about mental health screening if you experience persistent mood changes, anxiety, or behavioural concerns
- Consider that mental health burden peaks in adolescence; parents should monitor teens for signs of depression or anxiety
- Note that mental disorders now rank as the leading cause of disability worldwide, highlighting the need for accessible treatment
Frequently asked questions
Which mental disorders increased most between 1990 and 2023?
Anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, dysthymia, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, schizophrenia, and conduct disorder all showed notable increases in age-standardised prevalence rates over this period.
Are mental disorders more common in men or women?
Females had higher age-standardised disability rates at 2,240 per 100,000 compared to males at 1,900 per 100,000 in 2023.
At what age is mental disorder burden highest?
Mental disorder burden peaked in the 15–19 years age group at 2,617 disability-adjusted life-years per 100,000 population globally in 2023.
Key terms explained
Disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs)
A measure combining years of life lost to premature death and years lived with disability, representing total disease burden
Age-standardised rate
A rate adjusted to account for differences in age distribution across populations, enabling fair comparisons between countries
Socio-demographic Index (SDI)
A composite measure of income per capita, educational attainment, and fertility rates used to classify country development levels
Source: Updated trends in the global prevalence and burden of mental disorders, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. · DOI: doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00519-2
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