We do a lot of research about Attention Deficit Disorder, and there are a ton of statistics about how many people are diagnosed with ADD, how many prescriptions are sold each year, correlation between ADD and other mental disorders, etc.
Most of these stats aren’t hard to find (You can Google almost anything, right?), but there are lots of bogus numbers out there, and it can be tough to find clear, accurate info.
That’s why we created this ADD Statistics page. We’ve gathered all of the most important statistics about Attention Deficit Disorder and put them in one place.
Everything on this page is verified regularly and updated as needed. We also cite all of our sources, so you can be confident that what you read here is fact-based and error-free.
If we’ve left anything out, please let us know!
All information applies to the United States only.
Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
How many children have been diagnosed with ADHD?
In the United States alone, it is estimated that 5.4 million children between the ages of 4 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD (as of 2007). This is roughly 9.5% of children in the U.S. [i]
How many children have ADHD right now?
The American Psychiatric Association estimates that 3-7% of children have ADHD. This is conservative, as other studies have reported higher estimates. [i]
Boys vs. Girls
Boys are more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ADHD. In fact, more than twice as many boys have been diagnosed. [i]
Prevalence of ADHD by State
According to parental reporting, Nevada had the lowest rate of ADHD diagnosis in children (5.6%). North Carolina had the highest (15.6%). [i]
How many Americans have ADHD?
It is estimated that 1.21% of Americans are currently living with ADHD. [ii]
How many adults are diagnosed with ADHD?
The National Institute of Mental Health states that 4.1% of the U.S. adult population has ADHD. [iii]
Effects of ADHD
How does ADHD affect marriages?
The divorce rate is significantly higher (almost doubled) for marriages in which one or both partners suffer from ADHD. [iv]
ADHD & Other Mental Health Conditions
What percentage of people with Inattentive and/or Hyperactive symptoms also have other mental health problems?
| Inattentive with Minor Depression / Dysthymia | 21% |
| Inattentive with Oppositional Defiance Disorder | 21% |
| Inattentive with Generalized Anxiety Disorder | 19% |
| Hyperactive with Minor Depression / Dysthymia | 42% |
| Hyperactive with Oppositional Defiance Disorder | 22% |
| Hyperactive with Generalized Anxiety Disorder | 19% |
| Inattentive & Hyperactive with Minor Depression / Dysthymia | 50.7% |
| Inattentive & Hyperactive with Oppositional Defiance Disorder | 22.7% |
| Inattentive & Hyperactive with Generalized Anxiety Disorder | 12.4% |
[ii]
Sources Cited:
[i] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
[ii] Statistic Brain – Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) Statistics
[iii] National Institute of Mental Health | Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among Adults
