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How Common Is ADHD? 2026 Statistics

Casey Schmalacker

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Casey Schmalacker

9 min read

Research compiled by New Frontiers | Last updated: August 2026

How Common Is ADHD? Research shows that, worldwide, 7.2% of children and 6.76% of adults have some form of ADHD. In order to discuss the broader implications of ADHD and its impact on the general population, researchers at New Frontiers, the #1 rated executive function coaching service in the U.S., compiled data on a variety of relevant statistics related to the prevalence of ADHD both nationally and globally. This includes data on the worldwide prevalence of ADHD, ADHD rates by age group and gender, diagnosis trends, and statistics on the prevalence of ADHD in college. All figures were compiled from publicly available primary sources in August 2026, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and peer-reviewed research.

How Common Is ADHD?: 2026

ADHD is a growing diagnosis among various age groups in the general population, with 7.2% of children and 6.76% of adults having some form of ADHD. ADHD, which is short for Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by ongoing patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. People with ADHD often experience difficulties with executive functioning, and may require ADHD coaching to develop successful academic and life habits.

ADHD Prevalence Worldwide

Population Prevalence Estimate
Children & Adolescents with ADHD (Global) 7.2%
Adults with Symptomatic ADHD (Global) 6.76%
Adults with Undiagnosed ADHD (Global Estimate) ~220–230 million

Sources: Table 11

How Many Adults Have ADHD?: Prevalence in the U.S. by Age Group

Age Group Prevalence
2–5 years 2.4%
5–11 years 6.9%–11.5%
12–17 years 12.1%–17.1%
18–24 years 10.1%
25–49 years 41.1%
50–64 years 25.0%
≥65 years 23.9%

Sources: Table 22

ADHD Prevalence: U.S. vs. Worldwide

Population Prevalence Estimate
U.S. Children 10.5% (~6.5 million children)
U.S. Adults 6.0% (~1 in 16, ~15.5 million adults)
Non-U.S. Children 2.5%–9.2%
Non-U.S. Adults 1.1%–2.9%

Sources: Table 33

ADHD by Gender

There is a notable prevalence and diagnosis gap in ADHD statistics by gender, with many studies noting that ADHD is diagnosed more commonly among males than females. Prevalence rates of childhood ADHD show that boys have ADHD at a much higher ratio to girls, with adult ratios being quite similar. The vast majority of female ADHD diagnoses occur in adulthood, while male diagnoses are more evenly-split between adulthood and childhood.

ADHD Prevalence by Gender (Children & Adolescents)

Source/Survey Boys Girls Ratio
NIMH (parent-report, DSM-IV impairment criteria) 13.0% 4.2% ~3:1
NHIS 2020–2022 (ages 5–17, ever diagnosed) 14.5% 8.0% ~1.8:1
CDC 2016 NSCH (ages 2–17, ever diagnosed) 12.9% 5.6% ~2.3:1
CDC/HRSA 2024 National Survey of Children’s Health (ages 3–17, current) 13% 7% ~1.9:1
South Denver Therapy summary (secondary source) ~15% ~8% ~1.9:1
Global umbrella review (meta-analysis) ~10% ~5% ~2:1

Sources: Table 44

ADHD Prevalence by Gender (Adults)

Source/Survey Men Women Ratio
NIMH/NCS-R (current ADHD, ages 18–44) 5.4% 3.2% ~1.7:1
UK primary care, 2018 (diagnosed, per 10,000) 74.3 20.0 ~3.7:1

Sources: Table 55

Age-of-Diagnosis Gap by Gender

Measure Women Men
Diagnosed in adulthood 61% 40%
Diagnosed before age 11 25% 45%

Sources: Table 66

ADHD Diagnosis Trends

In recent years, the frequency of ADHD diagnosis has increased markedly along several metrics. From 2020–2024, adult ADHD assessments in the U.S. increased by 37%, and substantial increases were also seen in the rate of medication fills by ADHD patients. As diagnostic procedures improve, rates of diagnosis, particularly among children, are expected to rise further.

Overall ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment Trends

Metric Change
U.S. Children Ever Diagnosed with ADHD Increased by 1 million from 2016–2022
U.S. Adult ADHD Assessments, 2020–2024 Increased 37%
U.S. EHR-based overall incidence (all ages), 2010–2022 0.19%–0.57% of patients
U.S. adult incidence, 30–49 age group, 2020–2022 0.34%–0.64%
Total U.S. ADHD Medication Fills, 2019–2023 Rose 23.8%, from 72.8 million–90.2 million
Nonstimulant Fills, 2019–2023 Increased 60.1%
Stimulant Fills Among Children (0–18), 2019–2023 Decreased 6.5%
Stimulant Prescriptions Filled, 2012–2023 Increased from 50.4 million–80.8 million
Stimulant Prescriptions, 2022–2023 1.4% increase
Employer-Insured Stimulant Fills, 2016–2021 Rose from 3.6%–4.1% overall
Overall Stimulant Dispensing, 2012–2021/2022 Increased 45.5%–60%

Sources: Table 77

ADHD Diagnosis Prevalence by Age Group

Age Category Prevalence
School Children (6–12 years)/Children 3–11 7.6%
Children overall (≤18, pooled global) 7.2%
Adolescents (12–18 years) 5.6%
Adults (18+, umbrella review) 3.1%

Sources: Table 88

ADHD in College Students

ADHD is particularly relevant for young students in school and college. College-aged students with ADHD face unique challenges, and many may further deal with other conditions such as dyslexia or neurodivergence. Estimates of ADHD prevalence in college vary widely by source, ranging from as low as 3.4% to as high as 17%. ADHD prevalence at the college level is similar among both male and female students, and data on ethnicity shows similarly-small divergences.

Estimated Prevalence of ADHD Among U.S. College Students

Source Estimate
Springer/Current Psychiatry Reports Narrative Review (2025) 3.4%–11.2%
Healthy Minds Study, 2019–2020 4%
Healthy Minds Study, 2024–2025 14%
National College Health Assessment (NCHA III/IIIb), 2019–2020 8%
National College Health Assessment, 2024–2025 15%
AdditudeMag/Clinical Psychology Summary 11.6%
Frontiers (Social Determinants of Health Review) 3–8%
Verdant Psychology (Secondary Aggregator, 2025) 16–17%

Sources: Table 99

College Students and Adolescents with ADHD: Breakdown by Gender

Group Rate
Male College Students 15.7%
Female College Students 16.1%

Sources: Table 1010

College Students and Adolescents with ADHD: Breakdown by Ethnicity

Group Prevalence Ratio vs. White
White 1.0 (reference)
Asian 0.29–0.77
Black 0.29–0.77
Hispanic 0.29–0.77

Sources: Table 1111

References

1Table 1:

  1. General Prevalence of ADHD – CHADD. (2025, July 31). CHADD. https://chadd.org/about-adhd/general-prevalence/
  2. Guest. (2025, May 21). The prevalence of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A global systematic review and meta-analysis. JOGH. https://jogh.org/the-prevalence-of-adult-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-a-global-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis/

2Table 2:

  1. General Prevalence of ADHD – CHADD. (2025, July 31). CHADD. https://chadd.org/about-adhd/general-prevalence/
  2. General Prevalence of ADHD in Children – CHADD. (2025, July 31). CHADD. https://chadd.org/about-adhd/general-prevalence-children/
  3. QuickStats: Percentage* of Children and Adolescents Aged 5–17 Years Who Had Ever Received a Diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder,† by Urbanization Level§ and Age Group — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2020–2022. (2024, February 8). CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7305a6.htm
  4. ADHD Prevalence Among U.S. Children and Adolescents in 2022: Diagnosis, Severity, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Treatment. (n.d.). NIH. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38778436/
  5. Staley, B. S., Robinson, L. R., Claussen, A. H., Katz, S. M., Danielson, M. L., Summers, A. D., Farr, S. L., Blumberg, S. J., & Tinker, S. C. (2024). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis, Treatment, and Telehealth Use in Adults — National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System, United States, October–November 2023. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 73(40), 890–895. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7340a1

3Table 3:

  1. General Prevalence of ADHD – CHADD. (2025, July 31). CHADD. https://chadd.org/about-adhd/general-prevalence/
  2. Staley, B., Robinson, L., Claussen, A., Katz, S., Danielson, M., Summers, A., Farr, S., Blumberg, S., & Tinker, S. (2024, October 10). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis, Treatment, and Telehealth Use in Adults — National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System, United States, October–November 2023. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/pdfs/mm7340a1-H.pdf
  3. NeuroLaunch.com. (2026, July 4). ADHD Rates by country: A Global Perspective on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. https://neurolaunch.com/adhd-rates-by-country/
  4. The epidemiology of pharmacologically treated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, adolescents and adults in UK primary care. (n.d.). NIH. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3472167/
  5. Ebejer, J. L., Medland, S. E., Van Der Werf, J., Gondro, C., Henders, A. K., Lynskey, M., Martin, N. G., & Duffy, D. L. (2012). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Australian adults: prevalence, persistence, conduct problems and disadvantage. PLoS ONE, 7(10), e47404. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0047404
  6. Espinet, S. D., Graziosi, G., Toplak, M. E., Hesson, J., & Minhas, P. (2022). A review of Canadian diagnosed ADHD prevalence and incidence estimates published in the past decade. Brain Sciences, 12(8), 1051. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12081051

4Table 4:

  1. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). (n.d.). National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd
  2. Reuben, C., & Elgaddal, N. (2024, March). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Ages 5–17 Years: United States, 2020–2022. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db499.htm
  3. ADDitude Editors. (2025, November 3). ADHD statistics: New ADD facts and research. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/statistics-of-adhd/
  4. Data on ADHD in Children. (2026, July 8). CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/data/index.html
  5. Crane, K., & Lmft, K. C. (2025, September 30). ADHD Statistics (2025): Adults & Youth – U.S. Prevalence, treatment & impact — South Denver Therapy. South Denver Therapy. https://www.southdenvertherapy.com/blog/adhd-statistics-2025
  6. Ayano, G., Demelash, S., Gizachew, Y., Tsegay, L., & Alati, R. (2023, October 15). The global prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: An umbrella review of meta-analyses. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032723009230

5Table 5:

  1. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). (n.d.. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd
  2. McKechnie, D. G. J., O’Nions, E., Dunsmuir, S., & Petersen, I. (2023). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnoses and prescriptions in UK primary care, 2000–2018: population-based cohort study. BJPsych Open, 9(4), e121. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.512

6Table 6:

  1. Wachsman, M. W. (2024, October 15). CDC: Half of People with ADHD Diagnosed in Adulthood. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/adult-adhd-diagnosis-cdc-report/

7Table 7:

  1. Hassan, S. (2026, February 11). Is ADHD on the rise? What the latest data tells us. Qbtech. https://www.qbtech.com/blog/adhd-is-rising-here-is-the-latest-adhd-data/
  2. The World Data. (2026, January 18). ADHD treatment statistics in US 2026 | Key Facts – The World Data. -. https://theworlddata.com/adhd-treatment-statistics-in-us/
  3. Russell, J., RPh, Dpt, B. F. P., Piff, A., Allen, S., MD, & Barkley, E. (2023, March 30). Number of ADHD patients rising, especially among women. Epic Research. https://www.epicresearch.org/articles/number-of-adhd-patients-rising-especially-among-women/
  4. Huskamp, H. A., Busch, A. B., & Frank, R. G. (2025). Recent trends in medication Treatment for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Psychiatric Services, 76(9), 782–787. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20240574
  5. Stimulant Prescription Trends in the United States from 2012 – 2023. (2024). https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/docs/IQVIA-Report-on-Stimulant-Trends-2024.pdf
  6. Neilsen, J. (2026, July 28). 24 ADHD Statistics for 2024. ADHDAdvisor.org. https://www.adhdadvisor.org/learn/adhd-statistics-and-facts

8Table 8:

  1. Martin, A., Rubin, G., Rogers, M., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., Hall, C., Pitt, A., Logan, P., Lucas, R., & Brooks, S. (2025, November 1). The changing prevalence of ADHD? A systematic review. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032725008638
  2. General Prevalence of ADHD – CHADD. (2025, July 31). CHADD. https://chadd.org/about-adhd/general-prevalence/

9Table 9:

  1. Cha, Y., Choi, J. J., & Aluri, J. (2025). Prevalence of Self-Reported Diagnoses of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among Post-secondary Students in the U.S.: A Narrative Review. Current Psychiatry Reports, 28(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-025-01653-1
  2. Pesantez, N. (2025, February 5). Study: One in Six College Freshmen Has ADHD — Most with Comorbidities. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/statistics-about-college-students-adhd-rates-news/
  3. Frontiers | Advances in Social Determinants of Health for College Students with ADHD. (n.d.). Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/64653/advances-in-social-determinants-of-health-for-college-students-with-adhd
  4. Antshel, K., PhD, Stevens, A., PhD, Meinzer, M., PhD, & Canu, W., PhD. (2025, May 9). How Can We Improve Outcomes for College Students with ADHD? ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/college-students-and-adhd-improving-outcomes/

10Table 10:

  1. Pesantez, N. (2025, February 5). Study: One in Six College Freshmen Has ADHD — Most with Comorbidities. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/statistics-about-college-students-adhd-rates-news/

11Table 11:

  1. Adams, S. M., Riley, T., Quinn, P. D., Meraz, R., Karna, V., Rickert, M., & D’Onofrio, B. M. (2024). Racial-Ethnic Differences in ADHD diagnosis and treatment during adolescence and early adulthood. Psychiatric Services, 75(6), 521–527. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20230113
  2. Racial-Ethnic Differences in ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment During Adolescence and Early Adulthood. (2024). NIH. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38239182/
Casey Schmalacker

Casey Schmalacker

Casey Schmalacker, Vice President at New Frontiers, is a seasoned leader in marketing, sales, and business development. With a dual degree in Government and Law and Economics from Lafayette College, he has spent the past 10 years coaching students, adults, and organizations to improve executive functions, soft skills, and workplace performance. Casey's approach is rooted in strategic development and a passion for personalized coaching, emphasizing a culture of continuous improvement.

View Casey Schmalacker's Bio
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