It’s very common worldwide.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression affects about 280 million people globally, and MDD is the most prevalent form of depression.
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- Globally
Around 3.8% of the population experiences depression, but rates vary across regions, cultures, and age groups.
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- United States
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- 4% of adults (about 21 million people) had at least one major depressive episode in the past year.
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- The rate was even higher among adolescents (12–17 years old), with 17% experiencing a major depressive episode.
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- Gender differences
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- Women are about twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with MDD.
Biological, hormonal, and psychosocial factors likely play a role here.
The lifetime prevalence of MDD is estimated to be around:
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- 10–20% for women.
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- 5–12% for men.
Underreporting and misdiagnosis
Depression often goes underdiagnosed in:
- Older adults.
- Men (who might express depression through irritability or substance use).
- Cultures where mental health stigma is strong.
So, the real numbers might be even higher than reported.
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