How Common is ADHD in the UK?
It’s estimated that around 3 million people in the UK are living with ADHD, including approximately 623,000 children and 1.87 million adults.
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How Many People Have ADHD in the UK? Prevalence in Children and Adults
It’s estimated that around 3 million people in the UK are living with ADHD, including approximately 623,000 children and 1.87 million adults. These figures are based on prevalence estimates from NHS England, which suggest that around 2.5 million people in England alone meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD. ADHD UK has used this data to extrapolate figures for the devolved nations, producing an overall UK-wide estimate.
While these numbers provide a useful overview, ADHD prevalence is not an exact science. Rates vary depending on how ADHD is defined, how impairment is measured, and whether diagnoses are formally recorded or estimated through population studies.
ADHD in Children: How Common Is It?
UK-based research involving more than 10,000 children aged 5–15 found notable differences in diagnosis rates between boys and girls. The study reported ADHD in:
- 3.62% of boys
- 0.85% of girls
Globally, childhood ADHD prevalence is generally estimated to fall between 2% and 7%, with an average of around 5%.
One of the main challenges in calculating accurate prevalence is that different studies apply different thresholds for what counts as clinically significant impairment. For example, research conducted in Newcastle found:
- 11% of children met criteria when symptoms alone were considered
- 6.7% had symptoms with mild-to-moderate impairment
- 4.2% had moderate impairment
- 1.4% experienced severe and pervasive impairment
This highlights how prevalence rates change depending on whether ADHD is defined by symptoms alone or by the level of impact on daily functioning.
The commonly cited 4:1 male-to-female ratio in childhood ADHD is also under increasing scrutiny. Many experts now believe that ADHD in girls is frequently underdiagnosed, often because symptoms may be less disruptive or present differently than in boys.
ADHD in Adults: A Lifelong Condition for Many
ADHD does not simply disappear with age. While some individuals experience a reduction in symptoms, research suggests that around 65% of people diagnosed in childhood continue to experience some level of impairment in adulthood.
Large-scale studies estimate the prevalence of adult ADHD at approximately 4.4%, while UK NICE guidelines suggest a slightly lower adult prevalence of between 3% and 4%.
In adults, ADHD may look different than it does in childhood. Hyperactivity often becomes less visible, while difficulties with attention, organisation, emotional regulation, and impulsivity may become more prominent—particularly in work, relationships, and daily life.
Additional Diagnostic Criteria
- Symptoms must be present before the age of 12.
- Symptoms occur in two or more settings (e.g., home, school, work, social environments).
- Symptoms clearly interfere with social, academic, or occupational functioning.
- Symptoms are not better explained by another mental health disorder and do not occur only during psychotic episodes.
Why ADHD Prevalence Varies So Widely
Differences in reported ADHD rates are influenced by several factors, including:
- Diagnostic criteria used
- Whether impairment is required for diagnosis
- Awareness among professionals and the public
- Gender differences in presentation
- Access to assessment and support
As awareness improves and understanding of ADHD across the lifespan grows, prevalence estimates are likely to continue evolving.
What remains clear is that ADHD is common, affects both children and adults, and represents a significant public health and societal issue across the UK.
ADHD Population Estimates Across the Devolved Nations
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The ADHD population figures for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are extrapolated from England’s NHS Digital estimates. Mid-2023 population data from the ONS was used to calculate each nation’s share of the total UK population, and ADHD UK applied these proportions to estimate the numbers for the devolved nations.
ADHD Population Estimates for Children (0–18) Across the Devolved Nations
The figures for England are sourced from NHS Digital’s NHS England ADHD estimates. ADHD UK then extrapolated these numbers for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland using each nation’s share of the UK population.
ADHD Population Estimates for Young Adults (18–25) in the Devolved Nations
The figures for England are based on NHS Digital’s NHS England ADHD estimates. ADHD UK then extrapolated these numbers for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland according to each nation’s proportion of the UK population.
ADHD Population Estimates for Adults (18+) in the Devolved Nations
The adult ADHD figures for England were calculated by ADHD UK using NHS England’s ADHD estimates. Numbers for young adults (18–25) and adults (25+) were combined to produce an overall adult population estimate. ADHD UK then extrapolated these figures for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland based on each nation’s share of the total UK population.
Do I Have ADHD?
Start Your Journey Today
ADHD affects more people than you think. And now the stigma attached to ADHD is changing. More people are becoming open about living with ADHD, and there is a new influx of people coming forward for an ADHD assessment later in life. This is especially the case for females, as females are thought to be better at masking their symptoms.
It’s estimated that 1 in 20 people in the UK have ADHD, and due to the rise in people requesting an ADHD assessment, the NHS is becoming slower with ADHD diagnosis.
Getting treatment for ADHD quickly is important to help with any adverse effects of this mental health disorder on studies or work, which is why we are proud to offer quick and thorough ADHD assessments online with our ADHD doctors.
Getting treatment for ADHD quickly is important to help with any adverse effects of this mental health disorder on studies or work, which is why we are proud to offer quick and thorough ADHD assessments online with our ADHD doctors.
We offer appointments for ADHD titration too (treatment dosage) and autism appointments.
If you are wondering if you have ADHD, please use our free symptom checker. Research the ‘ ASRS symptoms checker’ and insert statics about the sensitivity and specificity of the symptom checker test.
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