Is mental health spending adequate?

No. Mental disorders account for ~13% of the global disease burden but receive only ~2% of healthcare spending — a massive treatment gap.

What is the most common mental health disorder?

Depression is the most common mental health condition globally, affecting over 280 million people and being the leading cause of disability.

Global Average Mental Health Spending

Last updated: February 4, 2026

2.1%

% of health budget

Governments worldwide spend an average of just 2.1% of their healthcare budgets on mental health, despite mental disorders accounting for ~13% of the global disease burden. High-income countries spend ~5.1% while low-income countries spend under 0.5%.

Why This Average Exists

Mental health spending data reveals a critical gap between disease burden and resource allocation, with depression being the leading cause of disability worldwide.

Factors That Affect Global Average Mental Health Spending

Overall healthcare budget
Stigma around mental illness
Political priorities
Mental health workforce
Insurance coverage
Cultural attitudes

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology & Data Sources

The data presented on this page is compiled from publicly available datasets published by international organizations including the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations, NASA, and national statistical agencies.

Global averages are calculated using population-weighted or arithmetic means depending on the metric. Country-level data reflects the most recent available figures, typically from 2023–2024. Where gaps exist, the latest available data point is used.

All figures are subject to revision as source organizations update their datasets. For the most authoritative data, we encourage consulting the original sources linked in the table above.