GITNUXREPORT 2026

Odd Statistics

ODD is most prevalent among boys and children facing poverty or family instability.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

68% of children with ODD also have ADHD per 2019 US meta-analysis of 52 studies

Statistic 2

Anxiety disorders co-occur with ODD in 45% of cases per 2020 European review of 30 cohorts

Statistic 3

52% of ODD youth have conduct disorder comorbidity per 2018 Brazilian longitudinal study

Statistic 4

Depression diagnosed in 38% of adolescents with persistent ODD per UK 2021 data

Statistic 5

Learning disabilities present in 41% of ODD children per US 2017 school survey

Statistic 6

Substance use disorders in 29% of ODD adults retrospectively per 2022 study

Statistic 7

Autism spectrum traits in 22% of ODD preschoolers per 2019 Dutch clinic data

Statistic 8

Bipolar disorder comorbidity at 19% in severe ODD cases per Italian 2020 analysis

Statistic 9

PTSD co-occurs in 35% of ODD children with trauma history per US 2016 VA study

Statistic 10

Specific language impairment in 27% of ODD youth per Australian 2021 research

Statistic 11

Eating disorders in 14% of female ODD adolescents per 2023 meta-analysis

Statistic 12

Tourette syndrome overlap at 12% per French 2018 twin study

Statistic 13

Intellectual disability in 18% of clinic-referred ODD children per Canadian 2019 data

Statistic 14

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in 21% of ODD with anxiety per 2022 Spanish study

Statistic 15

Schizophrenia spectrum risks elevated 2.5x in ODD adults per Swedish 2021 registry

Statistic 16

Sleep disorders comorbid in 47% of ODD children per US 2020 polysomnography study

Statistic 17

In US males aged 6-11, ODD prevalence is 6.1% compared to 2.8% in females per 2020 NHIS data

Statistic 18

Among Hispanic children in the US, ODD rates are 5.4% versus 4.1% in non-Hispanic whites from 2019 NSCH

Statistic 19

Black youth in urban US settings show ODD prevalence of 7.3% vs 3.9% in rural per 2017 study of 10,000

Statistic 20

In low-income families (<$25k/year), child ODD rates are 8.2% vs 2.3% in high-income (>100k) per 2021 US data

Statistic 21

Single-parent households report ODD in 6.7% of children vs 3.4% in two-parent per UK 2018 Millennium Cohort

Statistic 22

Among children with immigrant parents, ODD prevalence is 5.9% vs 4.0% native-born in European 2020 meta-analysis

Statistic 23

Rural Australian children have ODD at 2.1% vs 4.8% urban peers in 2019 survey of 5,200

Statistic 24

In Asian-American youth, ODD is 2.4% vs 5.2% in White youth per US 2022 data

Statistic 25

Children in foster care exhibit ODD at 12.4% vs 4.1% general population per 2016 US study

Statistic 26

Males in early adolescence (12-14) have ODD 2.1 times higher than females per Dutch 2021 data

Statistic 27

Indigenous Canadian children show ODD at 9.2% vs 4.3% non-Indigenous per 2020 report

Statistic 28

In families with parental incarceration history, child ODD is 10.1% vs 3.8% others per US 2019 study

Statistic 29

Urban Brazilian favelas report ODD in 11.3% of boys vs 6.8% girls aged 8-12 per 2018 data

Statistic 30

Among US military families, child ODD is 6.5% during deployments vs 3.2% peacetime

Statistic 31

Children with teen mothers (<18 at birth) have ODD 7.8% vs 3.5% others per Swedish 2022 registry

Statistic 32

In Pacific Islander US youth, ODD prevalence is 4.9% vs 4.7% overall per NSCH 2021

Statistic 33

LGBTQ+ identified youth show ODD at 8.6% vs 4.2% heterosexual peers per 2023 survey

Statistic 34

In a longitudinal study from 2015-2020 involving 2,847 children in the US, the prevalence of ODD was found to be 4.2% at baseline, increasing to 5.1% by age 12

Statistic 35

A 2019 meta-analysis of 45 studies worldwide reported ODD incidence rates of 1-11% in community samples of children aged 5-18, with a pooled estimate of 3.6%

Statistic 36

Among 1,234 Swedish preschoolers tracked from 2017-2022, ODD prevalence was 2.8% at age 3, rising to 6.4% by age 6

Statistic 37

A 2021 UK cohort study of 8,500 children found ODD prevalence at 5.3% in urban areas versus 3.1% in rural settings

Statistic 38

In a 2016 Brazilian survey of 4,200 school-aged children, ODD affected 7.2% with higher rates in low-SES groups at 9.8%

Statistic 39

US National Survey of Children's Health 2018 data showed ODD prevalence of 4.8% among 3-17 year olds

Statistic 40

A 2020 Australian study of 3,100 adolescents reported ODD incidence of 2.9% newly diagnosed per year

Statistic 41

In 2014-2019 Dutch registry data for 12,000 children, ODD prevalence stabilized at 3.9% post age 10

Statistic 42

A 2022 Canadian cross-sectional analysis of 6,750 youth found ODD at 5.7% in males vs 3.4% in females

Statistic 43

Italian 2017 study of 2,500 primary schoolers showed ODD prevalence of 4.1%, peaking in grade 3 at 5.6%

Statistic 44

In a 2023 US clinic-based sample of 1,890 referrals, ODD prevalence was 11.2% among psychiatric outpatients aged 6-12

Statistic 45

German 2018 BELLA study follow-up of 2,863 children reported ODD at 2.5% in early childhood declining to 1.8% in adolescence

Statistic 46

Spanish 2021 survey of 5,400 children aged 4-16 found ODD prevalence of 6.3% in public schools vs 2.9% private

Statistic 47

Japanese 2019 cohort of 1,650 elementary students showed ODD at 1.7%, lower than Western averages

Statistic 48

South African 2020 study of 3,200 township children reported ODD prevalence of 8.4%

Statistic 49

French 2016 nationwide survey of 7,000 youth found ODD at 4.5%

Statistic 50

Indian 2022 urban sample of 2,100 children aged 6-12 showed ODD at 3.9%

Statistic 51

Mexican 2018 study of 4,500 schoolchildren reported ODD prevalence of 5.6%

Statistic 52

Norwegian 2021 registry data for 9,800 children indicated ODD at 3.2% overall

Statistic 53

Turkish 2019 survey of 2,750 adolescents found ODD incidence of 4.7%

Statistic 54

33% of ODD cases linked to maternal smoking during pregnancy per 2017 meta-analysis

Statistic 55

Harsh parenting styles increase ODD risk by 3.2 odds ratio per 2019 US longitudinal data

Statistic 56

Low birth weight (<2500g) associated with 2.1x ODD risk per 2021 Swedish birth cohort

Statistic 57

Family history of antisocial behavior raises ODD odds 4.5x per 2018 twin study

Statistic 58

Prenatal exposure to alcohol elevates ODD risk 2.8x per Canadian 2020 analysis

Statistic 59

Inconsistent discipline predicts 58% of ODD variance per UK 2016 parental survey

Statistic 60

Childhood maltreatment history in 62% of severe ODD cases per US 2022 retrospective

Statistic 61

Genetic heritability estimated at 61% for ODD traits per 2019 GWAS of 15,000 twins

Statistic 62

Poverty (SES bottom quartile) increases ODD onset risk 2.7x per Brazilian 2018 data

Statistic 63

Parental divorce before age 5 triples ODD risk per Norwegian 2021 study

Statistic 64

Lead exposure >10ug/dL blood linked to 1.9x ODD odds per US 2017 environmental study

Statistic 65

Screen time >3hrs/day predicts ODD symptoms 2.4x in preschoolers per 2023 meta-analysis

Statistic 66

Paternal absence increases ODD risk 2.6x per African 2020 cohort

Statistic 67

Head injury history elevates ODD 3.1x per Italian 2019 clinic data

Statistic 68

72% symptom reduction after 12 months of parent training per 2020 US RCT of 450 families

Statistic 69

Cognitive-behavioral therapy shows 65% remission rate in mild ODD per 2018 meta-analysis of 28 trials

Statistic 70

Medication (risperidone) reduces aggression in 58% of severe ODD youth per 2021 trial

Statistic 71

Multisystemic therapy achieves 71% decrease in ODD symptoms at 24 months per Dutch 2019 study

Statistic 72

School-based interventions lower ODD incidence by 42% per UK 2022 cluster RCT

Statistic 73

Family therapy yields 55% improvement in 6 months per Brazilian 2017 trial of 320

Statistic 74

Mindfulness training reduces ODD relapses by 37% in adolescents per Australian 2023 data

Statistic 75

Combined PCIT + meds shows 82% response rate per US 2020 multisite study

Statistic 76

Long-term follow-up: 49% ODD persistence into adulthood without tx per Swedish 2016 registry

Statistic 77

Anger management programs cut ODD behaviors 60% per Canadian 2021 RCT

Statistic 78

Telehealth CBT effective in 67% rural ODD cases per 2022 US trial

Statistic 79

Omega-3 supplementation adjunct reduces symptoms 31% per 2019 meta-analysis

Statistic 80

Incarceration rates 3x higher in untreated ODD adults per 2023 longitudinal

Statistic 81

Peer mentoring lowers ODD severity 44% in schools per Spanish 2020 study

Statistic 82

Early intervention (age 4-6) prevents 76% progression to CD per French 2018 trial

Statistic 83

SSRI antidepressants improve comorbid anxiety in 52% ODD cases per 2021 review

1/83

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While statistics show Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) affects roughly one in twenty children, with prevalence surging to over one in ten among high-risk groups like youth in foster care, understanding this condition through its patterns of diagnosis, risk factors, and comorbidities reveals a complex landscape far more significant than a single number.

Key Takeaways

In a longitudinal study from 2015-2020 involving 2,847 children in the US, the prevalence of ODD was found to be 4.2% at baseline, increasing to 5.1% by age 12
A 2019 meta-analysis of 45 studies worldwide reported ODD incidence rates of 1-11% in community samples of children aged 5-18, with a pooled estimate of 3.6%
Among 1,234 Swedish preschoolers tracked from 2017-2022, ODD prevalence was 2.8% at age 3, rising to 6.4% by age 6
In US males aged 6-11, ODD prevalence is 6.1% compared to 2.8% in females per 2020 NHIS data
Among Hispanic children in the US, ODD rates are 5.4% versus 4.1% in non-Hispanic whites from 2019 NSCH
Black youth in urban US settings show ODD prevalence of 7.3% vs 3.9% in rural per 2017 study of 10,000
68% of children with ODD also have ADHD per 2019 US meta-analysis of 52 studies
Anxiety disorders co-occur with ODD in 45% of cases per 2020 European review of 30 cohorts
52% of ODD youth have conduct disorder comorbidity per 2018 Brazilian longitudinal study
33% of ODD cases linked to maternal smoking during pregnancy per 2017 meta-analysis
Harsh parenting styles increase ODD risk by 3.2 odds ratio per 2019 US longitudinal data
Low birth weight (<2500g) associated with 2.1x ODD risk per 2021 Swedish birth cohort
72% symptom reduction after 12 months of parent training per 2020 US RCT of 450 families
Cognitive-behavioral therapy shows 65% remission rate in mild ODD per 2018 meta-analysis of 28 trials
Medication (risperidone) reduces aggression in 58% of severe ODD youth per 2021 trial

ODD is most prevalent among boys and children facing poverty or family instability.

Comorbid Conditions

68% of children with ODD also have ADHD per 2019 US meta-analysis of 52 studies
Anxiety disorders co-occur with ODD in 45% of cases per 2020 European review of 30 cohorts
52% of ODD youth have conduct disorder comorbidity per 2018 Brazilian longitudinal study
Depression diagnosed in 38% of adolescents with persistent ODD per UK 2021 data
Learning disabilities present in 41% of ODD children per US 2017 school survey
Substance use disorders in 29% of ODD adults retrospectively per 2022 study
Autism spectrum traits in 22% of ODD preschoolers per 2019 Dutch clinic data
Bipolar disorder comorbidity at 19% in severe ODD cases per Italian 2020 analysis
PTSD co-occurs in 35% of ODD children with trauma history per US 2016 VA study
Specific language impairment in 27% of ODD youth per Australian 2021 research
Eating disorders in 14% of female ODD adolescents per 2023 meta-analysis
Tourette syndrome overlap at 12% per French 2018 twin study
Intellectual disability in 18% of clinic-referred ODD children per Canadian 2019 data
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in 21% of ODD with anxiety per 2022 Spanish study
Schizophrenia spectrum risks elevated 2.5x in ODD adults per Swedish 2021 registry
Sleep disorders comorbid in 47% of ODD children per US 2020 polysomnography study

Comorbid Conditions Interpretation

The statistics reveal that ODD rarely travels alone, arriving instead with a boisterous, often overwhelming entourage of other conditions that compete for the spotlight.

Demographic Variations

In US males aged 6-11, ODD prevalence is 6.1% compared to 2.8% in females per 2020 NHIS data
Among Hispanic children in the US, ODD rates are 5.4% versus 4.1% in non-Hispanic whites from 2019 NSCH
Black youth in urban US settings show ODD prevalence of 7.3% vs 3.9% in rural per 2017 study of 10,000
In low-income families (<$25k/year), child ODD rates are 8.2% vs 2.3% in high-income (>100k) per 2021 US data
Single-parent households report ODD in 6.7% of children vs 3.4% in two-parent per UK 2018 Millennium Cohort
Among children with immigrant parents, ODD prevalence is 5.9% vs 4.0% native-born in European 2020 meta-analysis
Rural Australian children have ODD at 2.1% vs 4.8% urban peers in 2019 survey of 5,200
In Asian-American youth, ODD is 2.4% vs 5.2% in White youth per US 2022 data
Children in foster care exhibit ODD at 12.4% vs 4.1% general population per 2016 US study
Males in early adolescence (12-14) have ODD 2.1 times higher than females per Dutch 2021 data
Indigenous Canadian children show ODD at 9.2% vs 4.3% non-Indigenous per 2020 report
In families with parental incarceration history, child ODD is 10.1% vs 3.8% others per US 2019 study
Urban Brazilian favelas report ODD in 11.3% of boys vs 6.8% girls aged 8-12 per 2018 data
Among US military families, child ODD is 6.5% during deployments vs 3.2% peacetime
Children with teen mothers (<18 at birth) have ODD 7.8% vs 3.5% others per Swedish 2022 registry
In Pacific Islander US youth, ODD prevalence is 4.9% vs 4.7% overall per NSCH 2021
LGBTQ+ identified youth show ODD at 8.6% vs 4.2% heterosexual peers per 2023 survey

Demographic Variations Interpretation

Across these varied demographics, the most stubborn predictor of childhood ODD is not the child's own temperament, but the heavy thumb of social adversity—poverty, instability, and systemic disadvantage—pressing down on their young lives.

Prevalence and Incidence

In a longitudinal study from 2015-2020 involving 2,847 children in the US, the prevalence of ODD was found to be 4.2% at baseline, increasing to 5.1% by age 12
A 2019 meta-analysis of 45 studies worldwide reported ODD incidence rates of 1-11% in community samples of children aged 5-18, with a pooled estimate of 3.6%
Among 1,234 Swedish preschoolers tracked from 2017-2022, ODD prevalence was 2.8% at age 3, rising to 6.4% by age 6
A 2021 UK cohort study of 8,500 children found ODD prevalence at 5.3% in urban areas versus 3.1% in rural settings
In a 2016 Brazilian survey of 4,200 school-aged children, ODD affected 7.2% with higher rates in low-SES groups at 9.8%
US National Survey of Children's Health 2018 data showed ODD prevalence of 4.8% among 3-17 year olds
A 2020 Australian study of 3,100 adolescents reported ODD incidence of 2.9% newly diagnosed per year
In 2014-2019 Dutch registry data for 12,000 children, ODD prevalence stabilized at 3.9% post age 10
A 2022 Canadian cross-sectional analysis of 6,750 youth found ODD at 5.7% in males vs 3.4% in females
Italian 2017 study of 2,500 primary schoolers showed ODD prevalence of 4.1%, peaking in grade 3 at 5.6%
In a 2023 US clinic-based sample of 1,890 referrals, ODD prevalence was 11.2% among psychiatric outpatients aged 6-12
German 2018 BELLA study follow-up of 2,863 children reported ODD at 2.5% in early childhood declining to 1.8% in adolescence
Spanish 2021 survey of 5,400 children aged 4-16 found ODD prevalence of 6.3% in public schools vs 2.9% private
Japanese 2019 cohort of 1,650 elementary students showed ODD at 1.7%, lower than Western averages
South African 2020 study of 3,200 township children reported ODD prevalence of 8.4%
French 2016 nationwide survey of 7,000 youth found ODD at 4.5%
Indian 2022 urban sample of 2,100 children aged 6-12 showed ODD at 3.9%
Mexican 2018 study of 4,500 schoolchildren reported ODD prevalence of 5.6%
Norwegian 2021 registry data for 9,800 children indicated ODD at 3.2% overall
Turkish 2019 survey of 2,750 adolescents found ODD incidence of 4.7%

Prevalence and Incidence Interpretation

The global jigsaw of ODD paints a picture where defiantly inconvenient statistics aren't just born; they're often nurtured by the specific challenges of time, place, and circumstance.

Risk Factors and Causes

33% of ODD cases linked to maternal smoking during pregnancy per 2017 meta-analysis
Harsh parenting styles increase ODD risk by 3.2 odds ratio per 2019 US longitudinal data
Low birth weight (<2500g) associated with 2.1x ODD risk per 2021 Swedish birth cohort
Family history of antisocial behavior raises ODD odds 4.5x per 2018 twin study
Prenatal exposure to alcohol elevates ODD risk 2.8x per Canadian 2020 analysis
Inconsistent discipline predicts 58% of ODD variance per UK 2016 parental survey
Childhood maltreatment history in 62% of severe ODD cases per US 2022 retrospective
Genetic heritability estimated at 61% for ODD traits per 2019 GWAS of 15,000 twins
Poverty (SES bottom quartile) increases ODD onset risk 2.7x per Brazilian 2018 data
Parental divorce before age 5 triples ODD risk per Norwegian 2021 study
Lead exposure >10ug/dL blood linked to 1.9x ODD odds per US 2017 environmental study
Screen time >3hrs/day predicts ODD symptoms 2.4x in preschoolers per 2023 meta-analysis
Paternal absence increases ODD risk 2.6x per African 2020 cohort
Head injury history elevates ODD 3.1x per Italian 2019 clinic data

Risk Factors and Causes Interpretation

It seems life’s first great rebellion begins not from the child, but from a perfect storm of genetics, a parent's cigarette, a screen's glow, and the heavy weight of a world that can be harsh, absent, or simply lead-lined.

Treatment and Outcomes

72% symptom reduction after 12 months of parent training per 2020 US RCT of 450 families
Cognitive-behavioral therapy shows 65% remission rate in mild ODD per 2018 meta-analysis of 28 trials
Medication (risperidone) reduces aggression in 58% of severe ODD youth per 2021 trial
Multisystemic therapy achieves 71% decrease in ODD symptoms at 24 months per Dutch 2019 study
School-based interventions lower ODD incidence by 42% per UK 2022 cluster RCT
Family therapy yields 55% improvement in 6 months per Brazilian 2017 trial of 320
Mindfulness training reduces ODD relapses by 37% in adolescents per Australian 2023 data
Combined PCIT + meds shows 82% response rate per US 2020 multisite study
Long-term follow-up: 49% ODD persistence into adulthood without tx per Swedish 2016 registry
Anger management programs cut ODD behaviors 60% per Canadian 2021 RCT
Telehealth CBT effective in 67% rural ODD cases per 2022 US trial
Omega-3 supplementation adjunct reduces symptoms 31% per 2019 meta-analysis
Incarceration rates 3x higher in untreated ODD adults per 2023 longitudinal
Peer mentoring lowers ODD severity 44% in schools per Spanish 2020 study
Early intervention (age 4-6) prevents 76% progression to CD per French 2018 trial
SSRI antidepressants improve comorbid anxiety in 52% ODD cases per 2021 review

Treatment and Outcomes Interpretation

While the numbers tell a compelling story—from a promising 82% response rate with combined treatment to a sobering 49% persistence into adulthood without care—the clearest prescription across all data is that early, multifaceted intervention, not any single magic bullet, is the most reliable path to turning defiance into development.

Sources & References

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