ADHD Statistics UK: 2026 Facts, Data & Key Insights

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions in the United Kingdom, and its profile has shifted dramatically in recent years. What was once primarily understood as a childhood condition affecting boys is now recognised as a lifelong condition affecting people of all genders — and the UK faces a diagnosis and treatment crisis of significant proportions. This guide brings together data from NHS England, the House of Commons Library, the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, and clinical research to provide the most comprehensive UK ADHD statistics reference available.

Key Facts

An estimated 2,498,000 people in England have ADHD, including 741,000 children and young people aged 5 to 24 (NHS England, May 2025)
13.9% of adults screened positive for ADHD in the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2023/24 — up from 8.2% in 2007
As of December 2025, there were 562,450 open referrals for a possible ADHD diagnosis in England
61.6% of adults and 65.8% of children on the ADHD waiting list had been waiting for over a year (House of Commons Library, 2026)
Only 9–10% of those waiting had been on the list for less than 13 weeks
Only 0.32% of 9 million UK GP records had a recorded ADHD diagnosis — meaning roughly only 1 in 9 people with ADHD are formally diagnosed (Priory, 2025)
ADHD was the second most viewed health condition on the NHS website in 2023, with 4.3 million page views — second only to COVID-19
Not treating ADHD is estimated to cost the UK economy approximately £17 billion annually
In March 2025 alone, 20,000 new referrals for ADHD assessment were recorded — a 13.5% increase from March 2024
NICE estimates approximately 5% of school-aged children and 3–4% of UK adults have ADHD
People with ADHD are considerably more likely to experience depression and anxiety
63% of people waiting for a diagnosis said they wanted help managing their mental health but had limited access to it

How Common Is ADHD in the UK?

The prevalence picture for ADHD in the UK has changed substantially in recent years, driven by growing awareness, changing diagnostic criteria, and — particularly — recognition that ADHD presents differently in women and girls than in men and boys, and was historically severely under-identified in female populations.

NHS England's ADHD Management Information data for May 2025 estimates that 2,498,000 people in England have ADHD — including 741,000 children and young people aged 5 to 24. These figures, which include both diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals, suggest ADHD is one of the most common health conditions in the country.

The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2023/24 — the most authoritative population survey of mental health in England — found that 13.9% of adults screened positive for ADHD on the validated ASRS screening tool. This compares to 8.2% in 2007 and 9.7% in 2014 — a near-doubling over less than two decades. Importantly, for the first time in the survey's history, women were more likely than men to screen positive for ADHD in 2023/24 — a reversal of the historical pattern and a clear signal that the systematic under-identification of ADHD in women is a genuine public health issue.

NICE's estimates remain at around 5% of children and 3–4% of adults — figures that represent the proportion clinically likely to meet diagnostic criteria. The gap between screening rates (13.9%) and clinical estimates reflects the difference between screening positive and receiving a formal diagnosis.

The Diagnosis and Waiting List Crisis

The most urgent dimension of the UK ADHD picture is the scale and severity of the diagnostic waiting list. As of December 2025, there were 562,450 open referrals for a possible ADHD diagnosis in England, according to the House of Commons Library. Of these:

397,255 (70.6%) were adult referrals
165,195 (29.4%) were for children and young people aged 0 to 17

The waiting times are extreme. 61.6% of adults and 65.8% of children had been on the waiting list for over a year. Only around 9–10% had been waiting for less than 13 weeks. The total number of people potentially waiting for an ADHD assessment — when accounting for independent providers and data quality limitations — may be as high as 2.76 million.

Demand shows no sign of slowing: in March 2025, up to 20,000 new referrals for ADHD assessment were recorded — a 13.5% increase from March 2024. NHS Digital has indicated that ADHD management information will move to official statistics standards in 2026/27, at which point meaningful trend comparisons will become possible for the first time.

The Diagnosis Gap: Only 1 in 9 Diagnosed

Perhaps the most striking data point in the UK ADHD landscape is the enormous gap between estimated prevalence and recorded diagnosis rates. Analysis of 9 million UK GP records in 2025 found that only 0.32% had a recorded ADHD diagnosis. Applying this to the NHS England estimate that approximately 3.7% of the English population has ADHD, this implies that roughly only 1 in 9 people with ADHD have a formal diagnosis on their GP record.

This gap has real-world consequences. People living with undiagnosed ADHD often experience years — sometimes decades — of unexplained difficulties with attention, impulse control, organisation, and emotional regulation. Many receive diagnoses of anxiety or depression before ADHD is identified, reflecting the frequent co-occurrence of these conditions and the tendency for ADHD symptoms to present through their emotional consequences rather than directly.

ADHD, Mental Health, and the Workplace

The relationship between ADHD and mental health is strong and well documented. People with ADHD are considerably more likely to experience a mental health difficulty — including depression, anxiety, and burnout. Among those waiting for a diagnosis, 63% said they wanted help managing their mental health but had limited access to it — a finding that captures the compounding harm caused by waiting list delays.

In the workplace, ADHD presents a complex picture. Only 1 in 5 people with ADHD has told their employer about their condition — reflecting concerns about stigma, job security, and the perceived risk of disclosure. Yet research shows that receiving a diagnosis helps people better understand themselves (84%), manage their mental health (58%), and build self-esteem (54%). There is a high prevalence of ADHD (20–34%) among young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

Not treating ADHD is estimated to cost the UK economy around £17 billion annually — through higher health and social care costs, greater reliance on state benefits, and reduced employment and tax contributions. For the wider economic cost of mental ill health, see our cost of mental health to the UK economy guide.

Written by

This guide was produced by the team at Mental Health First Aid Course. We publish evidence-based data resources to help employers, educators, and individuals understand the scale of ADHD in the UK and the urgent need for improved diagnosis and support.