ADHD Rates by Country 2023

Worldwide, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects about 2.2% of people overall by 2017. This rate fluctuates between .1-8.1%. In Asia, Europe, North and South America, and the Middle East, the range is from .6-7.3%.

In Children and Adolescents

Not all countries have published data with ADHD for children younger than six years old. Some places do have records concerning this, however. The percentages equal 1.9% for Norway, 1.8% for Germany and 5.4% for Spain.

The World Health Organization (WHO), also surveyed 20 lower-middle to upper income countries. This revealed the U.S. as having the highest ADHD rate at 8.1% in children and adolescents. The three lowest are Iraq at .1%, Poland at .3% and Romania at .4%. Data from this study comes from as late as 2017.

ADHD Rates For Other Countries

People Ages 18-44

• France – 4.7%
• Northern Ireland – 3.2%
• Mexico – 3.0%
• The Netherlands – 2.9%
• Belgium – 2.9%
• Brazil – 2.5%
• Germany – 1.8%
• Spain – 1.8%
• Portugal – 1.5%
• Lebanon – 1.5%
• Colombia – 1.2%
• Italy – .9%
• Peru – .8%
• China – .7%

European ADHD Gender Study

Another study, called the European ADORE study, took place over a period of 24 months. It includes research pulled from 10 EU countries ages 6-18 years. Out of 1478 children studied, boys with ADHD totaled 1222, which make up 84.3% of this group, and girls 231, which equals 15.7%.

Gender ratios indicated by countries included in the ADORE study measured 1:3 in females and 1:16 in males. Data reveals more diagnoses of ADHD in adult males than adult females in many locations. However, the ratio of males to females with ADHD has decreased with age.

2019 Population Share Studies

In Australia, ADHD rates by country in Australia totaled 3.72% in 2019, which is up from 3.68% in 2018. This list shows some of the highest population percentages of countries with ADHD in 2019:

• Australia – 3.72%
• Cuba – 3.28%
• Grenada – 3.26%
• Dominica – 3.25%
• Trinidad and Tobago – 3.25%
• Bermuda – 3.24%
• Saint Kitts and Nevis – 3.24%
• Puerto Rico – 3.23%
• Barbados – 3.23%
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – 3.22%
• Saint Lucia – 3.22%
• United States Virgin Islands – 3.22%
• Dominican Republic – 3.22%
• Antigua and Barbuda – 3.21%
• Suriname – 3.21%

Three more studies have shown decreases in ADHD prevalence. This drop includes 10-20 year olds, 8-15 year olds, and 6-14 year olds.