There isn't one single country with the absolute highest mental illness; prevalence varies by disorder, but The Netherlands, Portugal, and Australia often rank high for overall mental disorders, while the United States shows high rates for specific conditions like depression and anxiety, with some studies indicating a higher overall lifetime prevalence for mental illness in the U.S. compared to other high-income nations. Rates are also high in countries like Colombia, Ukraine, France, and New Zealand, while some Asian countries generally report lower rates.
Where are mental disorders most common? In 2023, the countries with the highest age-standardized prevalence rates of mental disorders in the world were The Netherlands, Portugal, and Australia. We also see high prevalence in the United Kingdom, Iran, Malta, Brazil, and Ireland.
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).
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.
The 10 Most Depressed Countries
If you think depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder are the mental illnesses most commonly linked to an early death, you're wrong. Eating disorders—including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating— are the most lethal mental health conditions, according to research in Current Psychiatry Reports.
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.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): One of the most common mental disorders, GAD is characterized by excessive worry about issues and situations that individuals experience every day. Any worrying that is out of proportion to the reality of the situation may fall under this disorder.
Bipolar Disorder From a Global Perspective
Based on population share, Brazil, Australia and Finland have the highest rates of bipolar disorder diagnoses. Many Asian countries have a lower incidence rate — in China, around . 4% of the citizens will be diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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 for others' feelings, and a tendency to exploit or manipulate people for personal gain, all stemming from a fragile ego and deep insecurity. They often boast, feel unique, get easily slighted by criticism, and disregard others' needs.
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).
Here, listed in alphabetical order, are five disorders that can be particularly difficult to live with:
Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia affects approximately 23 million people or 1 in 345 people worldwide (1). People with schizophrenia have a life expectancy nine years below that of the general population (2). Schizophrenia is characterised by significant impairments in perception and changes in behaviour.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of the most painful mental health conditions because individuals struggling with this disorder are constantly trying to cope with volatile and overwhelming emotions.