There isn't one single country with the absolute highest rate for all mental illnesses, as prevalence varies by disorder and study, but The Netherlands, Portugal, and Australia consistently rank very high for overall mental disorders, while countries like the United States, Colombia, and Ukraine also show high rates, with some Asian nations generally reporting lower prevalence. Greenland, Greece, and Australia often appear at the top for depressive disorders specifically.
The United States, Colombia, the Netherlands and Ukraine tended to have higher prevalence estimates across most classes of disorder, while Nigeria, Shanghai and Italy were consistently low, and prevalence was lower in Asian countries in general.
#1 China: World's Biggest, World's Least Depressed
Tales of less than appealing sounding conditions in the Chinese factories that make many of America's consumer goods and rural poverty aside, this rising superpower has the lowest incidence of depression anywhere – just 6.5 percent.
The interview-styled study of thousands of people the world over found the highest prevalence of personality disorders in Colombia and the United States and the lowest in Nigeria and Western Europe, with some other countries falling in-between.
Prevalence of mental disorders worldwide, 2023
A global map showing the prevalence rate of mental disorders in each country of the world, with The Netherlands and Portugal showing the highest rate at 22,893 and 22,116 respectively. A csv download of the data is available by tabbing to the Get the data link.
Lifetime prevalence estimates vary widely, from 3% in Japan to 17% in India. Epidemiological data shows higher rates of depression in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and the United States than in other regions and countries.
Racial/ethnic differences in lifetime prevalence of mental disorders. Lifetime prevalence of any DSM-IV/CIDI disorder was highest among White respondents (45.6%), somewhat lower among Latino (38.8%) and Black respondents (37.0%) and substantially lower among Asians (23.5%; see Table 2).
Study 2 (N = 967) and Study 3 (N = 315) found similar results such that Black individuals reported higher levels of narcissism than White individuals on the narcissism measures that captured less pathological facets of this construct.
The prevalence of depression was lower among non-Hispanic Asian adults than among any other race and Hispanic-origin group. Overall, non-Hispanic Asian adults had the lowest prevalence of depression (3.1%) compared with Hispanic (8.2%), non-Hispanic white (7.9%), and non-Hispanic black (9.2%) adults.
This fact sheet focuses on mental disorders as described by the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11). In 2021, nearly 1 in every 7 people (1.1 billion) around the world were living with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depressive disorders the most common (1).
Indeed, the four lowest lifetime prevalence estimates (<10%) were in low-middle income countries (Pondicherry, Mexico, Shenzen, South Africa). Conversely, with the exception of São Paulo, the highest rates (>18%) were in 4 high income countries (France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the US).
A person who has a mental illness cannot simply decide to get over it any more than someone who has a different chronic disease such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease can. A mental illness, like those other diseases, is caused by a physical problem in the body.
Regular exercise may improve depression or anxiety symptoms enough to make a big difference. That big difference can help kick-start further improvements. The mental health benefits of exercise and physical activity may last only if you stick with them over the long term.
The 10 Most Depressed Countries
Thailand. Thailand has earned its reputation as a haven for mental health treatment, offering a mix of world-class medical expertise and serene environments. The country is especially suitable for those seeking a combination of mental health care and spiritual healing.
Sweden's public healthcare system is renowned for its proactive stance on mental health, consistently seeking innovative initiatives to enhance the well-being of its population. The Swedish approach to mental health care emphasises prevention, accessibility, and the integration of new technologies and methodologies.
Narcissistic traits often peak in late adolescence and early adulthood (around ages 14-23), particularly with grandiosity and entitlement, as individuals seek identity and status, but then tend to decline as people mature and face life's realities, though some individuals with NPD may see intensification in these years before a potential mellowing in middle age.
Five key signs of a narcissist include a grandiose sense of self-importance, an excessive need for admiration, a strong sense of entitlement, lack of empathy, and a tendency for interpersonally exploitative or manipulative behavior, often driven by deep-seated insecurity masked by arrogance and a belief they are "special" or superior.
HPD is one of the rarest personality disorders, occurring in only 0.83% of the population2. HPD is one of 10 personality disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
In particular, African Americans are disproportionately diagnosed with Schizophrenia with estimates ranging from three to five times more likely in receiving such a diagnosis.
The percentage who had received any mental health treatment was highest among non-Hispanic white adults. Non-Hispanic white adults were most likely to have received any mental health treatment in the past 12 months (23.0%) compared with other race and Hispanic-origin groups (Figure 3).
1. Main points. The highest age-standardised rates of disability occurred for people who identified with the ethnic groups "White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller" (33.2% in England and 39.1% in Wales) and "Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: White and Black Caribbean" (22.4% in England and 26.7% in Wales).