How Common Is Bipolar Disorder in the United States?

People in the United States are more likely to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder than people in other countries. Almost 5 percent of Americans have been or will be diagnosed with bipolar sometime during their lives, which is about twice the global average. Researchers are not sure why this is, but it might be because of increased bipolar awareness in the U.S., a lack of stigma about the condition in the U.S. or simply the average American lifestyle.

More facts about bipolar disorder:

• Fewer than half of all people who have bipolar disorder receive treatment, and less than one-fourth of people who have bipolar disorder in less-developed countries even seek treatment.


• About 2.5 percent of people in the world will be diagnosed with bipolar during their lifetime.


• Along with the U.S., other countries that have relatively high rates of bipolar disorder diagnosis are Japan and Colombia. India has one of the lowest bipolar disorder diagnosis rates.