Prevalence of bipolar disorder in the population
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Prevalence of Bipolar Disorder in the General Population
Lifetime and 12-Month Prevalence Rates of Bipolar Disorder
Large-scale studies and meta-analyses consistently show that the lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder in the general population is between 1% and 2.4% for bipolar I and II combined, with some studies reporting up to 6% when including the broader bipolar spectrum disorders 2356. Specifically, a systematic review found the pooled lifetime prevalence to be 1.06% for bipolar I and 1.57% for bipolar II, while the 1-year prevalence was 0.71% for bipolar I and 0.50% for bipolar II . National surveys, such as those in Australia and England, report 12-month prevalence rates around 0.75% and lifetime prevalence rates of 1.7%, respectively 16. European studies also report 12-month prevalence rates of approximately 1% .
Prevalence in Youth and Adolescents
Among adolescents and young adults, the global prevalence of bipolar disorder is estimated at about 1.8% . Recent global analyses show a slight increase in incidence and prevalence among individuals aged 10–24 years from 1990 to 2019, with the highest rates observed in those aged 20–24 years 789. The burden is particularly notable in late adolescence and early adulthood 589.
Geographic and Methodological Variations
Prevalence rates vary by region and diagnostic criteria. Studies show that rates in Africa and Asia are less than half of those in North and South America, and the highest age-standardized prevalence rates are found in the Americas and countries like New Zealand 48. The use of different diagnostic criteria (DSM-III, DSM-IV, ICD-10) and assessment tools can also affect reported prevalence, with DSM-IV criteria generally yielding higher rates than earlier versions 245. Despite these differences, there is no strong evidence that the prevalence of bipolar disorder has increased significantly over the past three decades when accounting for methodological changes 410.
Trends Over Time
From 1990 to 2019, the absolute number of people with bipolar disorder has increased globally, mainly due to population growth, but the age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates have remained relatively stable 789. The burden, measured in years lived with disability (YLDs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), remains high, especially among young people and in high-income countries 789.
Conclusion
Bipolar disorder affects about 1–2% of the general population worldwide, with slightly higher rates when including the broader bipolar spectrum. Prevalence is similar across most high-income countries, with some regional variation and a notable burden among adolescents and young adults. While the absolute number of cases has increased, the standardized prevalence rates have remained stable over recent decades. Differences in diagnostic criteria and methodology account for much of the variation in reported rates.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic