States With the Highest Rates of Depression

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States with the highest rates of depression

Depression is a mental health disorder that can present as a variety of symptoms, including low energy, poor self-esteem, and a lack of interest in typically enjoyable activities. Though depression has long been a widespread issue throughout the United States, rates of the disorder have almost doubled in recent years. According to an April 2025 report from the Centers for Disease Control, around 7.3% of Americans aged 12 and up reported experiencing symptoms of depression between 2015 and 2016; between 2021 and 2023, that number jumped to more than 13%.

Though factors such as genetics can impact whether or not a person experiences depression, certain existential events have almost certainly contributed to this increase. A study published in Nature.com in January 2025 found that the overall prevalence of depression was significantly higher in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic than in the years prior. Perhaps unsurprisingly, economic instability can also play a significant role, as noted in a September 2024 analysis that found a strong correlation between economic turbulence and higher rates of anxiety and depressive disorders.

As common as depression is, few seem to seek out treatment for the disease. The CDC data from April 2025 shows that less than 40% of those with depression attempt treatment methods such as medication or therapy. This may be because depression occurs more frequently among those living below the poverty line, who may not be able to afford access to treatment. Per the CDC, depression rates are at 22% for those below the poverty level and 7% for those at or above the poverty line.

Beyond finances, rates of depression also vary significantly from state to state. Here, Stacker examines the prevalence of depression in every state in America and then breaks down those findings by key demographics like sex, race, and income.

To determine the states with the highest rates of depression, Stacker used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. All 50 states and Washington D.C. are ranked based on the share of the sampled population that reported a depression diagnosis in 2020. The national median for diagnosed depression rates is 19.5%.

It's important to note that the findings are limited to the first nine months of the pandemic and, therefore, exclude the time of the pandemic thereafter. Consequently, the data may not represent an uptick in cases—particularly in major depressive episodes—that many states may have realized post-2020.

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#51. Hawaii

- Population diagnosed with depression: 12.7%
- Depression rate breakdown by sex:
-- 9.6% rate for male population
-- 15.8% rate for female population
- Depression rate breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 16.5% rate for white population
-- 17.8% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 8.3% rate for Asian population

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#50. California

- Population diagnosed with depression: 14.1%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 9.4% rate for male population
-- 18.6% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 18.4% rate for white population
-- 19.7% rate for Black population
-- 12.0% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 5.2% rate for Asian population

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#48. Florida

- Population diagnosed with depression: 14.7%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 9.8% rate for male population
-- 19.2% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 17.2% rate for white population
-- 11.6% rate for Black population
-- 11.2% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#48. Illinois

- Population diagnosed with depression: 14.7%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 11.2% rate for male population
-- 18.0% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 16.1% rate for white population
-- 10.2% rate for Black population
-- 15.6% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#47. New Jersey

- Population diagnosed with depression: 15.2%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.2% rate for male population
-- 18.0% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 16.4% rate for white population
-- 14.8% rate for Black population
-- 14.6% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 10.0% rate for Asian population

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#46. Delaware

- Population diagnosed with depression: 15.6%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 10.9% rate for male population
-- 19.9% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 17.7% rate for white population
-- 11.6% rate for Black population
-- 9.4% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#45. Maryland

- Population diagnosed with depression: 15.7%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.1% rate for male population
-- 19.0% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 19.0% rate for white population
-- 12.6% rate for Black population
-- 8.4% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 12.0% rate for Asian population
-- 29.6% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#44. Alaska

- Population diagnosed with depression: 15.9%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 9.4% rate for male population
-- 23.0% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 16.6% rate for white population
-- 23.7% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 12.7% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#43. South Dakota

- Population diagnosed with depression: 16.1%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 10.2% rate for male population
-- 22.1% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 15.8% rate for white population

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#41. Nebraska

- Population diagnosed with depression: 16.8%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 11.4% rate for male population
-- 22.1% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 17.6% rate for white population
-- 15.4% rate for Black population
-- 10.8% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 14.1% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#41. New York

- Population diagnosed with depression: 16.8%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 13.9% rate for male population
-- 19.4% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 18.2% rate for white population
-- 15.3% rate for Black population
-- 17.0% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 8.9% rate for Asian population

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#39. Georgia

- Population diagnosed with depression: 17.2%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.3% rate for male population
-- 21.7% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 21.0% rate for white population
-- 12.4% rate for Black population
-- 10.9% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#39. Virginia

- Population diagnosed with depression: 17.2%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.1% rate for male population
-- 22.1% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 19.4% rate for white population
-- 15.7% rate for Black population
-- 10.1% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 8.6% rate for Asian population

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#37. Arizona

- Population diagnosed with depression: 17.4%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 13.1% rate for male population
-- 21.5% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 20.0% rate for white population
-- 13.7% rate for Black population
-- 13.8% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 16.2% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#37. Iowa

- Population diagnosed with depression: 17.4%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 11.2% rate for male population
-- 23.4% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 17.5% rate for white population
-- 15.1% rate for Black population
-- 15.3% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#35. New Mexico

- Population diagnosed with depression: 17.6%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.5% rate for male population
-- 22.5% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 19.8% rate for white population
-- 16.1% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 13.3% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#35. Nevada

- Population diagnosed with depression: 17.6%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 13.6% rate for male population
-- 21.5% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 21.7% rate for white population
-- 14.4% rate for Black population
-- 14.2% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#33. Connecticut

- Population diagnosed with depression: 17.7%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.2% rate for male population
-- 22.8% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 18.8% rate for white population
-- 12.2% rate for Black population
-- 18.9% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#33. Texas

- Population diagnosed with depression: 17.7%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.7% rate for male population
-- 22.4% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 21.0% rate for white population
-- 16.5% rate for Black population
-- 14.8% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 7.9% rate for Asian population

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#32. Massachusetts

- Population diagnosed with depression: 17.9%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.8% rate for male population
-- 22.6% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 18.2% rate for white population
-- 17.4% rate for Black population
-- 23.1% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 6.2% rate for Asian population

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#31. Wyoming

- Population diagnosed with depression: 18.3%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.1% rate for male population
-- 24.7% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 18.3% rate for white population
-- 19.9% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#30. Colorado

- Population diagnosed with depression: 18.4%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.7% rate for male population
-- 24.2% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 19.5% rate for white population
-- 18.1% rate for Black population
-- 15.3% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 27.6% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#29. Idaho

- Population diagnosed with depression: 18.9%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.7% rate for male population
-- 25.0% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 18.5% rate for white population
-- 18.7% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 26.0% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#27. Kansas

- Population diagnosed with depression: 19.2%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.7% rate for male population
-- 25.5% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 19.7% rate for white population
-- 17.0% rate for Black population
-- 16.2% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 27.2% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#27. North Dakota

- Population diagnosed with depression: 19.2%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 13.4% rate for male population
-- 25.3% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 18.9% rate for white population
-- 24.7% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 26.1% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#26. Michigan

- Population diagnosed with depression: 19.6%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 13.8% rate for male population
-- 25.0% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 20.0% rate for white population
-- 15.9% rate for Black population
-- 25.3% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 30.0% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#23. Washington DC

- Population diagnosed with depression: 19.8%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 15.2% rate for male population
-- 23.9% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 22.5% rate for white population
-- 18.3% rate for Black population
-- 13.5% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 16.5% rate for Asian population

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#23. Minnesota

- Population diagnosed with depression: 19.8%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 13.4% rate for male population
-- 26.0% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 20.7% rate for white population
-- 15.5% rate for Black population
-- 16.1% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 7.1% rate for Asian population
-- 34.9% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#23. Wisconsin

- Population diagnosed with depression: 19.8%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 12.9% rate for male population
-- 26.5% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 19.7% rate for white population
-- 20.2% rate for Black population
-- 19.4% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 39.9% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#22. Pennsylvania

- Population diagnosed with depression: 20.2%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 14.0% rate for male population
-- 26.2% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 20.0% rate for white population
-- 18.8% rate for Black population
-- 29.7% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#21. North Carolina

- Population diagnosed with depression: 20.8%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 15.2% rate for male population
-- 26.1% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 23.4% rate for white population
-- 16.7% rate for Black population
-- 11.0% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 31.1% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#20. Mississippi

- Population diagnosed with depression: 20.9%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 14.8% rate for male population
-- 26.4% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 23.4% rate for white population
-- 16.1% rate for Black population
-- 36.4% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#19. Rhode Island

- Population diagnosed with depression: 21.1%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 16.1% rate for male population
-- 25.8% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 21.7% rate for white population
-- 14.5% rate for Black population
-- 20.5% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#18. Oregon

- Population diagnosed with depression: 21.2%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 15.1% rate for male population
-- 27.1% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 21.7% rate for white population
-- 25.0% rate for Black population
-- 16.6% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 15.9% rate for Asian population
-- 17.8% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#16. New Hampshire

- Population diagnosed with depression: 21.4%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 15.0% rate for male population
-- 27.7% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 21.0% rate for white population
-- 28.3% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#16. South Carolina

- Population diagnosed with depression: 21.4%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 14.5% rate for male population
-- 27.7% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 23.1% rate for white population
-- 16.2% rate for Black population
-- 15.6% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#15. Indiana

- Population diagnosed with depression: 21.9%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 15.8% rate for male population
-- 27.7% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 22.9% rate for white population
-- 17.4% rate for Black population
-- 17.8% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 31.2% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#14. Ohio

- Population diagnosed with depression: 22.0%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 15.8% rate for male population
-- 27.8% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 22.3% rate for white population
-- 19.9% rate for Black population
-- 26.0% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#13. Maine

- Population diagnosed with depression: 22.1%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 16.0% rate for male population
-- 27.7% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 22.0% rate for white population
-- 26.7% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#12. Montana

- Population diagnosed with depression: 22.6%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 15.0% rate for male population
-- 30.1% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 21.8% rate for white population
-- 28.4% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 29.3% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#11. Missouri

- Population diagnosed with depression: 22.8%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 15.9% rate for male population
-- 29.3% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 23.5% rate for white population
-- 17.1% rate for Black population
-- 21.4% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 38.4% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#10. Oklahoma

- Population diagnosed with depression: 22.9%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 16.2% rate for male population
-- 29.3% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 23.4% rate for white population
-- 24.5% rate for Black population
-- 15.4% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 25.5% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#9. Utah

- Population diagnosed with depression: 23.1%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 16.1% rate for male population
-- 30.1% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 24.3% rate for white population
-- 20.1% rate for Black population
-- 19.0% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 21.5% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#8. Vermont

- Population diagnosed with depression: 23.3%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 17.9% rate for male population
-- 28.5% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 22.4% rate for white population
-- 31.2% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 34.4% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#7. Washington

- Population diagnosed with depression: 23.4%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 17.7% rate for male population
-- 29.1% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 25.4% rate for white population
-- 22.4% rate for Black population
-- 19.6% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 10.7% rate for Asian population
-- 36.7% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#4. Alabama

- Population diagnosed with depression: 23.5%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 16.1% rate for male population
-- 30.3% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 25.0% rate for white population
-- 21.4% rate for Black population
-- 27.5% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#4. Arkansas

- Population diagnosed with depression: 23.5%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 15.1% rate for male population
-- 31.4% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 25.1% rate for white population
-- 19.6% rate for Black population
-- 13.6% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 23.4% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#4. Louisiana

- Population diagnosed with depression: 23.5%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 16.6% rate for male population
-- 30.0% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 25.0% rate for white population
-- 20.0% rate for Black population
-- 25.4% rate for Hispanic or Latino population
-- 28.7% rate for Native American or Alaska Native population

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#3. Tennessee

- Population diagnosed with depression: 24.1%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 16.5% rate for male population
-- 31.2% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 25.1% rate for white population
-- 20.9% rate for Black population
-- 16.6% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#2. Kentucky

- Population diagnosed with depression: 24.2%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 18.4% rate for male population
-- 29.7% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 24.8% rate for white population
-- 18.8% rate for Black population
-- 17.7% rate for Hispanic or Latino population

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#1. West Virginia

- Population diagnosed with depression: 26.4%
- Breakdown by sex:
-- 20.1% rate for male population
-- 32.4% rate for female population
- Breakdown by race/ethnicity:
-- 26.6% rate for white population
-- 15.2% rate for Black population