In early 2020, characterized by the outbreak of COVID-19, across select OECD countries there was an increased prevalence of anxiety or symptoms of anxiety. For example, in Mexico 50 percent of the population reported they suffered from anxiety or symptoms of anxiety in 2020, compared to just 15 percent in the year prior to 2020.
The graph shows the results of different national surveys measuring the prevalence of anxiety or symptoms of anxiety in early 2020 and in the year before.
National estimates of the prevalence of anxiety or symptoms of anxiety in select OECD countries in early 2020 and in the year prior to 2020
Characteristic
Pre-COVID
2020
Australia
13%
21%
Austria
-
19%
Belgium
11%
23%
Canada
5%
20%
Czechia
7.8%
12.8%
France
13.5%
26.7%
Italy
-
20.8%
Japan
-
10.9%
Korea
-
29.5%
Mexico
15%
50%
New Zealand
6.1%
15.6%
Spain
-
21.6%
Sweden
14.7%
24.2%
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%
Add this content to your personal favorites. These can be accessed from the favorites menu in the main navigation.
You have no right to use this feature.
Make sure to contact us if you are interested in scientific citation.
You can upgrade your account to enable this functionality for all statistics.
This feature is not available with your current account.Request access
To the extent possible, 2020 prevalence estimates were taken from March-April 2020
Supplementary notes
"The survey instruments used to measure anxiety and population samples differ between countries, and therefore are not directly comparable,
and some surveys may have small sample sizes and/or not use nationally representative samples. Differences in the openness of populations
to discussing their mental state also hampers cross-country comparability. Where possible, surveys using the GAD-7 instrument have been
selected. 2013 data for Sweden uses a cut-off of ‘8’ for the GAD-7, while most other studies use a cut off of ≥10."
Statista has been my savior on several occasions.
The site is easy to maneuver and the data is in a format that can
go right into a report or presentation.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
OECD. (May 12, 2021). National estimates of the prevalence of anxiety or symptoms of anxiety in select OECD countries in early 2020 and in the year prior to 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1310875/prevalence-of-anxiety-before-and-after-covid-19-select-oecd-countries/
OECD. "National estimates of the prevalence of anxiety or symptoms of anxiety in select OECD countries in early 2020 and in the year prior to 2020 ." Chart. May 12, 2021. Statista. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1310875/prevalence-of-anxiety-before-and-after-covid-19-select-oecd-countries/
OECD. (2021). National estimates of the prevalence of anxiety or symptoms of anxiety in select OECD countries in early 2020 and in the year prior to 2020 . Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1310875/prevalence-of-anxiety-before-and-after-covid-19-select-oecd-countries/
OECD. "National Estimates of The Prevalence of Anxiety or Symptoms of Anxiety in Select Oecd Countries in Early 2020 and in The Year Prior to 2020 ." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 May 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1310875/prevalence-of-anxiety-before-and-after-covid-19-select-oecd-countries/
OECD, National estimates of the prevalence of anxiety or symptoms of anxiety in select OECD countries in early 2020 and in the year prior to 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1310875/prevalence-of-anxiety-before-and-after-covid-19-select-oecd-countries/ (last visited April 28, 2025)
National estimates of the prevalence of anxiety or symptoms of anxiety in select OECD countries in early 2020 and in the year prior to 2020 [Graph], OECD, May 12, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1310875/prevalence-of-anxiety-before-and-after-covid-19-select-oecd-countries/
Profit from additional features with an Employee Account
Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites.
Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
