NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 379 ■ September 2020

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Symptoms of Depression Among Adults: United States, 2019

Maria A. Villarroel, Ph.D., and Emily P. Terlizzi, M.P.H.

Key findings

Data from the National 

Health Interview Survey

● In 2019, 2.8% of 

adults experienced severe 

symptoms of depression, 

4.2% experienced moderate 

symptoms, and 11.5% 

experienced mild symptoms in 

the past 2 weeks.

● The percentage of adults 

who experienced any 

symptoms of depression was 

highest among those aged 

18–29 (21.0%), followed by 

those aged 45–64 (18.4%) and 

65 and over (18.4%), and lastly, 

by those aged 30–44 (16.8%). 

● Women were more likely 

than men to experience mild, 

moderate, or severe symptoms 

of depression. 

● Non-Hispanic Asian adults 

were least likely to experience 

mild, moderate, or severe 

symptoms of depression 

compared with Hispanic, 

non-Hispanic white, and 

non-Hispanic black adults.

Depression is characterized by the presence of feelings of sadness, emptiness, 

or irritability, accompanied by bodily and cognitive changes lasting at least 2 

weeks that significantly affect the individual’s capacity to function (1). The 

eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ–8) is a validated diagnostic 

and severity measure of symptoms of depressive disorders (2,3). Adults with 

scores of 0–4 are considered to have no or minimal symptoms of depression, 

while those with scores of 5–9, 10–14, or 15–24 are considered to have mild, 

moderate, or severe symptoms, respectively (2,3). This report examines the 

percentage of adults aged 18 and over with symptoms of depression in the past 

2 weeks in 2019, by symptom severity and select demographic characteristics, 

using the PHQ–8 scale.

In 2019, 18.5% of adults had symptoms of depression that 

were either mild, moderate, or severe in the past 2 weeks.

NCHS reports can be downloaded from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/index.htm.

NOTES: Severity of depression symptoms was based on the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ–8), 

and summarized into none-minimal (values 0–4), mild (values 5–9), moderate (values 10–14), and severe (values 15–24). 

Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Access data table for 

Figure 1 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db379-tables-508.pdf#1.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2019.

Figure 1. Percent distribution of severity of depression symptoms in the past 2 weeks among 

adults aged 18 and over: United States, 2019

None-minimal

Severe

Moderate

Mild

81.5%

11.5%

4.2%

2.8%
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 379 ■ September 2020

■  2  ■

● During 2019, 81.5% of adults aged 18 and over experienced no or minimal symptoms of 

depression in the past 2 weeks (Figure 1). 

● Among adults, 11.5% experienced mild symptoms of depression, 4.2% experienced 

moderate symptoms, and 2.8% experienced severe symptoms.

Severity of depression symptoms in the past 2 weeks varied by age.

● The total percentage of adults who experienced symptoms of depression that were either 

mild, moderate, or severe in the past 2 weeks was highest among those aged 18–29 (21.0%) 

and lowest among those aged 30–44 (16.8%) (Figure 2). 

● The percentage of adults who experienced mild depression symptoms was highest among 

those aged 18–29 (13.9%), followed by those aged 65 and over (12.0%), and lowest among 

those aged 45–64 (10.7%) and 30–44 (10.3%). 

● The percentage of adults who experienced moderate depression symptoms was higher 

among those aged 45–64 (4.5%) compared with those aged 30–44 (3.8%) and those aged 65 

and over (3.8%). The observed difference between adults aged 18–29 (4.4%) and the older 

age groups was not significant. 

● The percentage of adults who experienced severe depression symptoms did not vary 

significantly by age and was 2.7% among those aged 18–29, 2.7% among those aged 30–44, 

3.1% among those aged 45–65, and 2.6% among those aged 65 and over.

1

Significant quadratic trend (p < 0.05). 2

Significant cubic trend (p < 0.05). 

NOTES: Severity of depression symptoms was based on the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ–8), and summarized into 

none-minimal (values 0–4), mild (values 5–9), moderate (values 10–14), and severe (values 15–24). Those categorized as having no or minimal symptoms of 

depression are not shown in this figure. Any severity includes those categorized as having either mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of depression in the past 2 

weeks. Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Access data table for Figure 2 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db379-tables-508.pdf#2.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2019.

Figure 2. Percentage of adults aged 18 and over with symptoms of depression in the past 2 weeks, by symptom severity 

and age group: United States, 2019

0

5

10

15

20

25

18–29 30–44 45–64 65 and over

Moderate Severe Any severity1 Mild1 2

Percent

21.0

16.8

18.4 18.4

13.9

10.3 10.7

12.0

4.4 3.8 4.5 3.8

2.7 2.7 3.1 2.6
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 379 ■ September 2020

■  3  ■

Women were more likely than men to experience mild, moderate, and 

severe depression symptoms in the past 2 weeks. 

● In 2019, 21.8% of women experienced depression symptoms in the past 2 weeks that were 

either mild, moderate, or severe, which was higher than men (15.0%) (Figure 3).

● Women were more likely than men to have experienced depression symptoms that were 

mild (13.4% and 9.6%, respectively), moderate (4.9% and 3.4%, respectively), and severe 

(3.5% and 2.1%, respectively).

1

Significantly different from women (p < 0.05). 

NOTES: Severity of depression symptoms was based on the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ–8), and summarized into 

none-minimal (values 0–4), mild (values 5–9), moderate (values 10–14), and severe (values 15–24). Those categorized as having no or minimal symptoms of 

depression are not shown in this figure. Any severity includes those categorized as having either mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of depression in the past 2 

weeks. Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Access data table for Figure 3 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db379-tables-508.pdf#3.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2019.

Figure 3. Percentage of adults aged 18 and over with symptoms of depression in the past 2 weeks, by symptom severity 

and sex: United States, 2019

0

5

10

15

20

25

Men Women

Any severity Mild Moderate Severe

12pt 12pt

6pt

12pt

12pt

1

15.0

21.8

1

9.6

13.4

1

3.4

4.9

1

2.1

3.5

Percent
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 379 ■ September 2020

■  4  ■

The percentage of adults who experienced depression symptoms in the 

past 2 weeks varied by Hispanic origin and race.

● Non-Hispanic white (19.3%) and non-Hispanic black (19.3%) adults were the most likely 

to have experienced any severity of depression symptoms in the past 2 weeks, followed 

by Hispanic (16.9%) adults, while non-Hispanic Asian (10.2%) adults were least likely 

(Figure 4). 

● Non-Hispanic white (12.0%) and non-Hispanic black (12.2%) adults were the most likely 

to have experienced mild depression symptoms in the past 2 weeks, followed by Hispanic 

(10.2%) adults, while non-Hispanic Asian (7.9%) adults were least likely. 

● Non-Hispanic Asian (1.2%) adults were least likely to have experienced moderate 

depression symptoms, compared with non-Hispanic black (4.6%), non-Hispanic white 

(4.4%), and Hispanic (4.0%) adults.

● Non-Hispanic Asian (1.2%) adults were least likely to have experienced severe depression 

symptoms, compared with non-Hispanic white (2.9%), Hispanic (2.7%), and non-Hispanic 

black (2.5%) adults.

1Significantly different from non-Hispanic white (p < 0.05). 2Significantly different from non-Hispanic black (p < 0.05). 3Significantly different from non-Hispanic Asian (p < 0.05). 

NOTES: Severity of depression symptoms was based on the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ–8), and summarized into 

none-minimal (values 0–4), mild (values 5–9), moderate (values 10–14), and severe (values 15–24). Those categorized as having no or minimal symptoms of 

depression are not shown in this figure. Any severity includes those categorized as having either mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of depression in the past 2 

weeks. Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Access data table for Figure 4 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db379-tables-508.pdf#4.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2019.

Figure 4. Percentage of adults aged 18 and over with symptoms of depression in the past 2 weeks, by symptom severity 

and race and Hispanic origin: United States, 2019

0

5

10

15

20

25

Any severity Mild Moderate Severe

Percent

12pt

12pt

12pt

1,2,316.9

319.3

10.2 1,2,310.2

7.9

1.2 1.2

319.3

312.0 312.2

34.0 34.4 34.6

32.7 32.9 32.5

Hispanic Non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic black Non-Hispanic Asian
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 379 ■ September 2020

■  5  ■

Summary 

During 2019, approximately one in five (18.5%) adults aged 18 and over experienced any 

symptoms of depression in the past 2 weeks, with 11.5% experiencing mild symptoms, 4.2% 

experiencing moderate symptoms, and 2.8% experiencing severe symptoms. 

Women were more likely than men to experience symptoms of depression across all severity 

levels. While there was no significant trend by age among adults experiencing severe symptoms 

of depression, adults aged 18–29 and those aged 65 and over were most likely to experience 

mild symptoms of depression. A higher percentage of adults aged 45–64 experienced moderate 

symptoms of depression compared with those aged 30–44 and 65 and over. Adults aged 18–29 

were as likely to experience moderate symptoms of depression as those aged 45–64, but the 

observed differences with the other age groups were not significant. Non-Hispanic white 

and non-Hispanic black adults were most likely to experience mild symptoms of depression, 

compared with Hispanic and non-Hispanic Asian adults. Non-Hispanic Asian adults were least 

likely to experience mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of depression, compared with Hispanic, 

non-Hispanic white, and non-Hispanic black adults. 

The PHQ–8 scale is a valid screening and diagnostic measure for depressive disorders with a 

score of 10 or higher corresponding to moderate and severe symptoms and indicative of current 

depression (3). Based on responses to the PHQ–8 scale, 7.0% of adults aged 18 and over had 

scores of 10 or higher.

Definitions

Race and Hispanic origin: Based on responses to two questions that determine Hispanic or Latino 

origin and race. Adults categorized as Hispanic may be of any race or combination of races. 

Adults categorized as non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and non-Hispanic Asian indicated 

one race only.

Severity of depression symptoms: Based on the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire 

depression scale (PHQ–8) and summarized into no or minimal (values 0–4), mild (values 5–9), 

moderate (values 10–14), and severe (values 15–24) symptoms of depression (2,3). Sample adults 

were asked how often they have been bothered by the following symptoms in the past 2 weeks: 

“Little interest or pleasure in doing things;” “Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless;” “Trouble 

falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much;” “Feeling tired or having little energy;” “Poor 

appetite or overeating;” “Feeling bad about yourself, or that you are a failure, or have let yourself 

or your family down;” “Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or 

watching television;” and “Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed? 

Or the opposite, being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than 

usual.” Response options were “not at all,” “several days,” “more than half the days,” and “nearly 

every day,” scored as 0 to 3 points, respectively, and then summed into a total score. Sample 

adults with two or more PHQ–8 questions answered as “refused,” “don’t know,” or whose 

answers were not ascertained, were not included in this analysis.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 379 ■ September 2020

■  6  ■

Data source and methods

Data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data were used for this analysis. 

NHIS is a nationally representative multipurpose health survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized 

U.S. population. It is conducted continuously throughout the year by the National Center for 

Health Statistics (NCHS). Interviews are conducted in the respondent’s home, but follow-ups to 

complete interviews may be conducted by telephone when necessary. For more information about 

NHIS, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.

Point estimates and the corresponding variances were calculated using SAS-callable SUDAAN 

version 11.0 (4) to account for the complex sample design of NHIS. Linear, quadratic, and cubic 

trends by age were evaluated using orthogonal polynomials in logistic regression. Differences 

between percentages were evaluated using two-sided significance tests at the 0.05 level. All 

estimates presented meet NCHS data presentation standards for proportions (5).

About the authors

Maria A. Villarroel and Emily P. Terlizzi are with the National Center for Health Statistics, 

Division of Health Interview Statistics.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 379 ■ September 2020

■  7  ■

References

1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 

(DSM–5). 5th ed. Arlington, VA. 2013. 

2. Kroenke K, Spitzer RL. The PHQ–9: A new depression diagnostic and severity measure. 

Psychiatric Annals 32:509–21. 2002.

3. Kroenke K, Strine TW, Spitzer RL, Williams JB, Berry JT, Mokdad AH. The PHQ–8 as a 

measure of current depression in the general population. J Affect Disord 114(1–3):163–73. 2009.

4. RTI International. SUDAAN (Release 11.0.3) [computer software]. 2018.

5. Parker JD, Talih M, Malec DJ, Beresovsky V, Carroll M, Gonzalez JF Jr, et al. National 

Center for Health Statistics data presentation standards for proportions. National Center for 

Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(175). 2017.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 379 ■ September 2020

Keywords: depressive disorder • mental health • PHQ–8 • National Health 

Interview Survey

Suggested citation

Villarroel MA, Terlizzi EP. Symptoms of 

depression among adults: United States, 

2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 379. Hyattsville, 

MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 

2020.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Brian C. Moyer, Ph.D., Director

Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., Acting Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health Interview Statistics

Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D., Director

Anjel Vahratian, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate 

Director for Science

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

3311 Toledo Road, Room 4551, MS P08

Hyattsville, MD 20782–2064

OFFICIAL BUSINESS 

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

For more NCHS Data Briefs, visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs.htm.

FIRST CLASS MAIL 

POSTAGE & FEES PAID 

CDC/NCHS

PERMIT NO. G-284

For e-mail updates on NCHS publication 

releases, subscribe online at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/email-updates.htm.

For questions or general information

about NCHS:

Tel: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–4636)

TTY: 1–888–232–6348

Internet: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs

Online request form: https://www.cdc.gov/info

ISSN 1941–4927 Print ed.

ISSN 1941–4935 Online ed.

CS319615