Anxiety is not just a personal experience it is showing up in surveys, workplaces, and healthcare costs at a scale that keeps widening. In 2022, 56.4% of US adults with serious mental illness did not receive treatment, while 19.1% of US adults reported anxiety disorder symptoms in the past 7 days. When you line those realities up with the global burden numbers and treatment evidence, the pattern becomes harder to ignore.
Key Takeaways
- 11.4% of adolescents aged 12–17 in the US had at least one major depressive episode in the past year (2019–2022 pooled), and anxiety disorders are among the most common co-occurring conditions in youth mental health surveillance.
- 13.3% of adults in the European Union reported anxiety or nervousness as a symptom of psychological distress in the last 2 weeks (Eurofound: 2023 second wave results).
- 14.5% of employed people across Europe reported feeling anxious or nervous (Eurofound Working Conditions Telephone Survey 2023).
- Global burden: anxiety disorders accounted for 15.3 million years lived with disability (YLDs) in 2019 (Global Burden of Disease Study 2019).
- Global burden: anxiety disorders ranked as the 6th leading cause of YLDs worldwide in 2019 (Global Burden of Disease Study 2019).
- The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 estimated 7.6% increase in anxiety-disorder DALYs globally between 2010 and 2021 (IHME 2021 trends).
- In 2022, 56.4% of US adults with serious mental illness did not receive treatment, indicating large unmet need that includes anxiety comorbidity (NSDUH 2022).
- In 2018, anxiety disorders accounted for $2,000 higher total medical expenditures per privately insured adult compared with those without anxiety (insurance cost comparisons in US claims analyses).
- Workplace impact: anxiety disorders were estimated to cost US employers $1,161 per employee per year due to presenteeism-related productivity losses (study-based workplace economics).
- The global market for digital mental health was valued at $3.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $13.5 billion by 2030 (with anxiety-focused tools included).
- The global mental health software market was estimated at $6.2 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $17.8 billion by 2030 (software includes symptom tracking and anxiety-related apps).
- The global telehealth market was $80.8 billion in 2022 and projected to reach $395.2 billion by 2030, enabling remote access for anxiety care.
- Evidence-based psychotherapy: exposure-based CBT can reduce panic disorder symptoms with effect sizes around 1.0 compared with waitlist in meta-analyses (panic disorder CBT outcomes).
- Meta-analysis: CBT for social anxiety disorder shows large reductions in symptoms with standardized mean differences around 1.2 versus control conditions.
- Meta-analysis: internet-based CBT for anxiety disorders has moderate effects on anxiety symptoms (standardized mean differences about 0.5–0.7 depending on comparator).
Anxiety is widespread and costly, affecting millions globally and often going untreated in youth and adults.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence Rates3 stats
01
11.4% of adolescents aged 12–17 in the US had at least one major depressive episode in the past year (2019–2022 pooled), and anxiety disorders are among the most common co-occurring conditions in youth mental health surveillance.
02
13.3% of adults in the European Union reported anxiety or nervousness as a symptom of psychological distress in the last 2 weeks (Eurofound: 2023 second wave results).
03
14.5% of employed people across Europe reported feeling anxious or nervous (Eurofound Working Conditions Telephone Survey 2023).
Interpretation
Prevalence Rates Interpretation
Across prevalence rates, anxiety is widespread with 13.3% of adults in the EU reporting anxiety or nervousness in the last two weeks and 14.5% of employed people in Europe feeling anxious, while youth also show high need with 11.4% of US adolescents experiencing a major depressive episode where anxiety disorders are common co-occurring conditions.
02 · Category
Burden Of Disease3 stats
01
Global burden: anxiety disorders accounted for 15.3 million years lived with disability (YLDs) in 2019 (Global Burden of Disease Study 2019).
02
Global burden: anxiety disorders ranked as the 6th leading cause of YLDs worldwide in 2019 (Global Burden of Disease Study 2019).
03
The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 estimated 7.6% increase in anxiety-disorder DALYs globally between 2010 and 2021 (IHME 2021 trends).
Interpretation
Burden Of Disease Interpretation
From a burden of disease perspective, anxiety disorders drove 15.3 million YLDs in 2019 and stood as the 6th leading cause of YLDs worldwide, while a 7.6% rise in anxiety-disorder DALYs globally from 2010 to 2021 signals growing health impact over time.
03 · Category
Treatment Gap1 stats
01
In 2022, 56.4% of US adults with serious mental illness did not receive treatment, indicating large unmet need that includes anxiety comorbidity (NSDUH 2022).
Interpretation
Treatment Gap Interpretation
In 2022, 56.4% of US adults with serious mental illness did not receive treatment, underscoring a major treatment gap where anxiety needs likely go unmet alongside other conditions (NSDUH 2022).
04 · Category
Economic Impact2 stats
01
In 2018, anxiety disorders accounted for $2,000higher total medical expenditures per privately insured adult compared with those without anxiety (insurance cost comparisons in US claims analyses).
02
Workplace impact: anxiety disorders were estimated to cost US employers $1,161per employee per year due to presenteeism-related productivity losses (study-based workplace economics).
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
From an Economic Impact perspective, anxiety disorders imposed a measurable financial burden with $2,000 higher annual medical expenditures per privately insured adult in 2018 and an estimated $1,161 per employee per year in workplace productivity losses from presenteeism.
05 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
The global market for digital mental health was valued at $3.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $13.5 billion by 2030 (with anxiety-focused tools included).
02
The global mental health software market was estimated at $6.2 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $17.8 billion by 2030 (software includes symptom tracking and anxiety-related apps).
03
The global telehealth market was $80.8 billion in 2022 and projected to reach $395.2 billion by 2030, enabling remote access for anxiety care.
04
The global cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) market size for mental health services and tools was estimated at $2.4 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $6.9 billion by 2030 (includes CBT modalities used for anxiety).
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
Across the Market Size landscape, anxiety related digital mental health is set for rapid growth, with the sector projected to rise from $3.7 billion in 2023 to $13.5 billion by 2030 and mental health software expanding from $6.2 billion to $17.8 billion in the same period.
06 · Category
Clinical Outcomes6 stats
01
Evidence-based psychotherapy: exposure-based CBT can reduce panic disorder symptoms with effect sizes around 1.0 compared with waitlist in meta-analyses (panic disorder CBT outcomes).
02
Meta-analysis: CBT for social anxiety disorder shows large reductions in symptoms with standardized mean differences around 1.2 versus control conditions.
03
Meta-analysis: internet-based CBT for anxiety disorders has moderate effects on anxiety symptoms (standardized mean differences about 0.5–0.7 depending on comparator).
04
Meta-analysis: mindfulness-based interventions for anxiety have small-to-moderate effects on anxiety symptoms (SMD about 0.3–0.5).
05
In a randomized controlled trial, transdiagnostic internet CBT reduced anxiety severity scores by 5.5 points more than control at post-treatment (UK trial).
06
Pharmacotherapy: in generalized anxiety disorder, pregabalin reduced HAM-A scores by about 4–6 points more than placebo across pivotal trials (meta-analytic summaries).
Interpretation
Clinical Outcomes Interpretation
Clinical outcomes evidence shows that anxiety treatments can produce clearly measurable symptom improvements, with CBT for panic disorder reaching effect sizes near 1.0 and social anxiety CBT showing SMDs around 1.2, while internet CBT delivers moderate gains (SMD 0.5 to 0.7) and even a UK transdiagnostic internet trial improved anxiety scores by 5.5 points more than control at post treatment.
More related reading
07 · Category
Care Delivery3 stats
01
In the US, about 1 in 5 adults with mental illness have co-occurring substance use disorder, which commonly overlaps with anxiety presentations (SAMHSA/NSDUH estimates).
02
Germany: statutory health insurance sickness absence due to mental disorders accounted for 14.5 days per employed person per year in 2023, indicating work-related anxiety and stress burden (AOK/BAuA mental health absence stats).
03
Canada: in 2022, 19% of adults reported unmet needs for mental health services, affecting access to anxiety-related treatments (Statistics Canada survey).
Interpretation
Care Delivery Interpretation
Across care delivery, anxiety is tightly linked to access and burden issues, with 19% of adults in Canada reporting unmet mental health needs, Germany showing 14.5 days of sickness absence per employed person in 2023 due to mental disorders, and US estimates indicating about 1 in 5 adults with mental illness also have a substance use disorder that often overlaps with anxiety.
08 · Category
Technology & Digital1 stats
01
In 2023, 60% of employers in a global survey reported offering virtual mental health services, which can include anxiety screening and support.
Interpretation
Technology & Digital Interpretation
In the Technology and Digital space, 60% of employers in a global 2023 survey now offer virtual mental health services, making anxiety screening and digital support a mainstream benefit.
09 · Category
Epidemiology4 stats
01
19.1% of US adults reported experiencing anxiety disorder symptoms in the past 7 days (2022), indicating a very common prevalence level for anxiety-related symptoms in population surveys
02
31.6% of US adults screened positive for anxiety in 2022 (K-6/criteria-based screening threshold), demonstrating a large at-the-moment mental health footprint
03
7.6% of adults aged 18+ in England were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder by a GP in 2016–2017, quantifying clinical diagnosis prevalence in primary care records
04
2.2% of adults worldwide met criteria for an anxiety disorder at some point in 2010, illustrating global lifetime prevalence for anxiety disorders in major systematic evidence syntheses
Interpretation
Epidemiology Interpretation
From an epidemiology standpoint, anxiety is widespread across populations, with 31.6% of US adults screening positive for anxiety in 2022 and 19.1% reporting anxiety disorder symptoms in the prior 7 days, showing how common anxiety-related distress is even beyond those who receive clinical diagnoses.
10 · Category
Workplace Impact1 stats
01
$193.2 billion in indirect costs from mental health conditions in the US (2016, including lost productivity and other indirect impacts), providing a macro cost anchor that includes anxiety within mental health burdens
Interpretation
Workplace Impact Interpretation
In the United States, mental health conditions tied to anxiety create $193.2 billion in indirect workplace costs in 2016, showing that anxiety’s impact is felt broadly through lost productivity rather than only through direct clinical expenses.
11 · Category
Cost & Utilization4 stats
01
In the UK, mental health conditions accounted for 40% of all long-term sick leave cases among working-age adults in 2021 (administrative/statistics-based estimate), relevant to anxiety as a major contributor to mental health absence
02
In the US, anxiety disorders are associated with higher all-cause healthcare utilization; patients with anxiety have 1.7x more outpatient visits than patients without anxiety (claims analysis), indicating utilization uplift
03
In Australia, psychological distress-related GP visit volumes were 19.5 million encounters in 2022 (Medicare item data), providing a utilization proxy for anxiety-related care-seeking
04
A 2020 analysis reported that untreated anxiety disorders lead to increased healthcare costs over time compared with treated cohorts, quantifying cost consequences tied to treatment access
Interpretation
Cost & Utilization Interpretation
Across Cost and Utilization, anxiety and related conditions are linked to clear healthcare demand and expense signals, from UK mental health making up 40% of long-term sick leave in 2021 to US patients with anxiety having 1.7 times more outpatient visits, and Australia recording 19.5 million GP encounters for psychological distress in 2022.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Anxiety Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/anxiety-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Anxiety Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/anxiety-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Anxiety Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/anxiety-statistics.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+10 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)