Key PTSD statistics |
|
|---|---|
| PTSD statistic | Percentage |
| Global lifetime prevalence | 3.9% |
| Americans who will experience PTSD | 6% |
| Female lifetime prevalence | 10%–12% |
| Male lifetime prevalence | 5%–6% |
| Trauma survivors who develop PTSD | 5.6% |
Natural disasters, violence, serious accidents, and the sudden death or injury of a loved one can all be traumatic experiences. It’s common to feel anxious, on edge, or distressed after trauma. For people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however, symptoms can persist for months or years and interfere with daily life. Here’s what the latest PTSD statistics show about how common the condition is, who is most affected, and how it is treated.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Everyone’s response to a traumatic event is different.
People with PTSD may have ongoing symptoms such as flashbacks, distressing memories, heightened alertness, or strong emotional reactions to reminders of the trauma. These symptoms can persist and interfere with daily life.
Who is at risk for PTSD?
Anyone who experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, or learns about a traumatic event that happened to a loved one, can develop PTSD. Examples of traumatic events include violence, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, sexual abuse, and serious or fatal accidents. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. According to MedlinePlus, factors that may increase the risk include:
- Childhood trauma
- Prolonged trauma, such as abuse
- Lack of social support after a traumatic event
- Additional stress, such as losing a job or loved one, soon after the event
- A history of mental health conditions
- A history of substance use
- Being female, as women have a higher risk of developing PTSD than men
How is PTSD diagnosed?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a PTSD diagnosis requires symptoms lasting at least one month and includes:
- One or more re-experiencing symptoms, such as flashbacks, nightmares, or physical signs of stress, triggered by reminders of the trauma
- One or more avoidance symptoms, such as avoiding people, places, thoughts, or feelings associated with the traumatic event
- One or more arousal and reactivity symptoms, such as feeling tense, easily startled, restless, or irritable
- One or more cognition and mood symptoms, such as difficulty remembering parts of the event, loss of interest in activities, self-blame, or social withdrawal
How does PTSD affect a person’s life?
PTSD affects many aspects of daily life. “Trauma shrinks a person’s world,” says Shauna Springer, Ph.D., a psychologist at Hidden Ivy Consulting based in California. “It creates tunnel vision and leaves people in a sustained state of ‘survival mode.’ We are flooded by anxiety and may vacillate between feeling angry and feeling detached from those we love.”
PTSD can also affect children and teens differently. According to NIMH, PTSD symptoms in children may include bedwetting after being toilet-trained, difficulty speaking, acting out the traumatic event, or clinging to family members. Teens may show destructive or disruptive behaviors.
People with PTSD may also experience other mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, substance use problems, and sleep problems.
How common is PTSD?
- Nearly 4% of the global population had PTSD at some point in their lives. (World Health Organization, 2024)
- PTSD statistics worldwide show that about 5.6% of people who experience a potentially traumatic event develop PTSD. (WHO, 2024)
- About 6% of the U.S. population has had or will have PTSD at some point in their lives. (National Center for PTSD, 2025)
- As is true in the global population, U.S. women are significantly more likely than men to experience PTSD. (National Alliance on Mental Health, 2025)
PTSD statistics by age
PTSD can affect people of any age, including children, adolescents, and older adults. Research suggests that age itself may not significantly affect the likelihood of developing PTSD after trauma, although prevalence and diagnosis rates vary across age groups.
- PTSD can occur at any age. (NAMI, 2025)
- Age is not considered a risk factor for PTSD, meaning PTSD seems equally likely to occur among children, adolescents, or adults exposed to trauma. (Frontiers in Psychology, 2025)
- In the U.S., PTSD is least common among adults aged 65 and older. (National Center for PTSD, 2026)
PTSD statistics by race and ethnicity
Race-based trauma can result from direct or indirect experiences of racism, discrimination, threats, or violence. Research has linked race-based trauma to post-traumatic stress and other mental health effects. Racial and ethnic disparities in PTSD may be influenced by factors such as:
- Greater exposure to structural inequalities
- Historical trauma
- Barriers to mental health care
- Higher exposure to community violence
Here are the current statistics of PTSD by race:
- Black Americans have a higher risk of developing PTSD than Asian/Pacific Islander, Latinx, or White Americans. (PTSD Research Quarterly, 2020)
- In the U.S., the lifetime prevalence of PTSD is 9.1% for Black Americans and 6.8% for White Americans. (PTSDUK, 2026)
- Black female U.S. military veterans are significantly less likely to receive PTSD-related disability benefits than their non-Black counterparts. (Military Medicine, 2025)
PTSD statistics by gender
- Women are more likely than men to develop PTSD. (NAMI, 2025)
- In the U.S., the lifetime prevalence of PTSD is 10-12% for women. (American Psychological Association, 2024)
- In the U.S., the lifetime prevalence of PTSD is 5-6% for men. (APA, 2024)
PTSD statistics by type of trauma
Sexual trauma presents the most significant risk of PTSD, according to a 2017 European Journal of Psychotraumatology report using data from 24 countries.
The following statistics from the report show the percentage of people who developed PTSD after experiencing each type of trauma.
PTSD statistics by trauma type at a glance |
|
|---|---|
| Rape | 19% |
| Intimate partner violence | 11.7% |
| Kidnapping | 11% |
| Sexual assault | 10.5% |
| Stalking | 7.6% |
| Witnessing war atrocities | 5.4% |
| Unexpected death of a loved one | 5.4% |
| Natural disaster | 0.3% |
PTSD in veterans
Witnessing or taking part in war-related activities increases the risk of PTSD and other mental health conditions, such as substance use disorders. Here are some statistics on PTSD in war veterans:
- About 7% of U.S. veterans will have PTSD at some point in their lives. (National Center for PTSD, 2025)
- About 29% of living U.S. veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan have experienced PTSD. (National Center for PTSD, 2025)
- About 21% of living U.S. veterans who served during the Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm) have had PTSD. (National Center for PTSD, 2025)
- About 10% of living U.S. veterans who served during the Vietnam War have had PTSD. (National Center for PTSD, 2025)
PTSD in first responders
First responder mental health statistics are clear: EMS paramedics, police workers, and firefighters have a higher-than-average PTSD risk because they often experience or witness death, injury, and disaster. Research also shows that trauma exposure has cumulative effects.
A 2025 meta-analysis of PTSD statistics published in Clinical Psychology Review outlined the following data about PTSD in first responders:
About 1 in 7 first responders may have PTSD as a result of routine duties.
- About 15% of EMS workers may have PTSD as a result of routine work duties.
- About 13.9% of police officers may have PTSD as a result of routine work duties.
- About 12.1% of firefighters may have PTSD as a result of routine work duties.
- Among EMS workers, the odds of PTSD increased by 8.9% per year over the period studied.
Suicide risk in firefighters
Research suggests that firefighters face an elevated risk of suicide, highlighting the importance of addressing PTSD and other mental health concerns in this population. One study of U.S. firefighters found that physical health and relationship problems were more common among firefighters who died by suicide than among non-firefighters in the study. (Psychiatry Research, 2021)
Help is available: Call 988
The International Association of Fire Fighters offers behavioral health resources to help firefighters and other first responders address PTSD and other mental health concerns.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call or text 988 for free, confidential support. The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7 in the United States, with services available in English and Spanish.
PTSD and depression
PTSD and depression often occur simultaneously.
- Depression, like PTSD, often occurs after trauma. (National Center for PTSD, 2025)
- Depression is 3 to 5 times more common in those with PTSD than in the general population. (National Center for PTSD, 2025)
- In one study of trauma patients, 35.4% had depression, and 14.2% had PTSD. (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2025)
- About 45% of people who have or have had PTSD also have substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder. (National Center for PTSD, 2025)
PTSD treatment
PTSD can be treated. Up to 40% of people with PTSD recover within a year, according to the WHO. Effective PTSD treatments include evidence-based psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
Psychotherapy
There are multiple types of psychotherapy used to treat PTSD. NIMH suggests that effective options typically include prolonged exposure (PE) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT), a trauma-focused type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
A 2018 review reported the following treatment outcomes:
- Between 41% and 95% of PE therapy participants no longer meet the criteria for PTSD after treatment. (Frontiers in Behavior Neuroscience, 2018)
- Between 30% and 97% of CPT participants no longer meet the criteria for PTSD after treatment. (Frontiers in Behavior Neuroscience, 2018)
- Between 61% and 82.4% of CBT participants no longer meet the criteria for PTSD after treatment. (Frontiers in Behavior Neuroscience, 2018)
Other psychiatric therapies for PTSD may include:
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- Mantram therapy, a meditation-based therapy
It’s important to seek personalized advice and psychotherapy from a mental health clinician who specializes in treating trauma. Research is ongoing, and choosing the best PTSD treatment is a shared decision between patient and clinician.
Medication
The best medication for PTSD depends on the individual’s symptoms, medical history, other medications they take, and individual preferences. Some options may include antidepressants such as Prozac (fluoxetine), Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate), Zoloft (sertraline), or Paxil (paroxetine). Antipsychotics such as Abilify or Zyprexa may also be prescribed.
Ultimately, the choice to treat PTSD with medication is a shared decision between the patient and healthcare provider.
Adherence to PTSD treatment
Research on PTSD emphasizes the importance of finding a treatment (or combination of treatments) that you will stick with and that works for you.
- Among U.S. service members and veterans, weekly cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure therapy had some of the highest treatment dropout rates. (Psychological Trauma, 2025)
- Weekly group-based exposure therapy and intensive outpatient programs had some of the lowest dropout rates. (Psychological Trauma, 2025)
- About 41% of patients with PTSD reported forgetting to take their medications, compared with 29% of patients without PTSD. (Journal of Psychiatric Research, 2013)
Expert takeaway
Leslie Greenberg, MD, an associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and a member of the SingleCare Medical Review Board, states that PTSD can affect anyone experiencing a traumatic event. It can take weeks to months of consistent therapy and/or medication to treat PTSD successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How common is PTSD in the U.S.?
About 6 in 100 people in the U.S. will have PTSD at some point in their lives, according to the National Center for PTSD.
Who is most likely to develop PTSD?
Women are more likely than men to develop PTSD. Research also shows racial and ethnic differences in PTSD risk and prevalence, with some studies finding a higher risk among Black Americans.
What percentage of trauma survivors develop PTSD?
About 5.6% of people who experience a potentially traumatic event actually develop PTSD, according to the World Health Organization.
What type of trauma has the highest PTSD risk?
Sexual trauma presents the highest risk of PTSD.
How common is PTSD among veterans?
Seven out of every 100 U.S. veterans have PTSD at some point in their lives, according to the National Center for PTSD.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder, MedlinePlus (2023)
- Sex and gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder: an update, European Journal of Psychotraumatology (2017)
- Traumatic events and post-traumatic stress disorder, National Institute of Mental Health (2023)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder, World Health Organization (2024)
- How common is PTSD in adults, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD (2025)
- How common is PTSD in veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD (2025)
- Posttraumatic stress disorder, National Alliance on Mental Illness (2025)
- Prevalence and associated factors of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among trauma patients: Multi-centered cross-sectional study, Frontiers in Psychiatry (2025)
- Older adults and PTSD, U.S. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD (2026)
- Race-based trauma and post-traumatic growth through identity transformation, Frontiers in Psychology (2023)
- Racial and ethnic disparities in PTSD, PTSD Research Quarterly (2020)
- Gender and race differences in rates of PTSD service connection: Results from a nationally representative panel of OEF/OIF/OND veterans, Military Medicine (2025)
- Causes of PTSD & C-PTSD – racial trauma, PTSD UK (2026)
- Women who experience trauma are twice as likely as men to develop PTSD. Here’s why, American Psychological Association (2024)
- Trauma and PTSD in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys, European Journal of Psychotraumatology (2017)
- Statistics on veterans and substance abuse, American Addiction Centers (2026)
- Global PTSD prevalence among active first responders and trends over recent years: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Clinical Psychology Review (2025)
- Cumulative trauma and trauma symptoms: A three-way interaction, Behavioral Sciences (2023)
- An epidemiologic study of suicide among firefighters: Findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003 – 2017, Psychiatry Research (2021)
- Behavioral health, International Association of Fire Fighters (2026)
- Prevalence and associated factors of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among trauma patients: multi-centered cross-sectional study, Frontiers in Psychiatry (2025)
- The protocol matters: A meta-analysis of psychotherapy dropout from specific PTSD treatment approaches in U.S. service members and veterans, Psychological Trauma (2025)
- Treating PTSD: A review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (2018)
- Overview of psychotherapy for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2026)
- Medically accurate: SingleCare’s Medical Review Board analyzes all of our content to confirm it’s in line with current medical advice.
- Evidence-based: Our content is sourced from reputable U.S.-based healthcare professionals and peer-reviewed research.
- Trustworthy: All of SingleCare’s content goes through a multi-phase review process by our writers, editors, and Medical Board in order to provide clear and credible information.