Global economic burden of depression in 154 countries from 2025 to 2050

• Zhong Cao,

• Yuheng Luo,

• Lirui Jiao,

• Wenjin Chen,

• Klaus Prettner,

• Michael Kuhn,

• David E. Bloom,

• Dean T. Jamison,

• Till Winfried Bärnighausen &

• Simiao Chen 

  
  

Nature Medicine (2026)

Depression is a major contributor to the global burden of diseases with substantial socioeconomic consequences. Here, to estimate the economic effects of depression, we developed a macroeconomic model using data from the World Bank and Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The model estimated the impact of depression on labor force participation, educational attainment and work experience, adjusted for age and sex. The projected global economic burden from 2025 to 2050 is estimated at US$12 trillion (2024 US dollars), representing 0.460% of annual global gross domestic product. When suicide-related deaths attributable to depression are accounted for, based on an assumed 60% attribution rate representing the upper bound of estimates in the literature, the overall economic burden increases to US$14 trillion. The highest economic burdens are observed in the United States and China. Relative to regional gross domestic product, the impact is greatest in North America. Reduced labor force participation and productivity were identified as the predominant drivers of this cost. The macroeconomic burden of depression is substantial and inequitably distributed globally. These findings underscore the importance of addressing depression as a public health and economic concern. Reducing the health burden of depression could yield economic returns by supporting productivity and capital accumulation.

CITE

Cao, Z., Luo, Y., Jiao, L. et al. Global economic burden of depression in 154 countries from 2025 to 2050. Nat Med  (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04548-7