ADHD diagnoses rise in England but remain low among adults over 65

Recorded ADHD diagnoses in England reached 1.19 percent of the population by 2025, according to data from more than 3.5 million GP-registered patients. The figure remains below international prevalence estimates of 3 to 5 percent.

Diagnosis trends since 2020 Rates of new ADHD diagnoses increased after 2020 across most age groups. The largest increases occurred among boys under 18 and among adult women. Diagnosis rates for adults aged 65 and older stayed consistently low throughout the period.

Data sources and study scope Researchers analyzed records from more than 42 million patients in England between 2000 and 2024. They compared recorded diagnoses with published prevalence estimates from international studies. About 2.5 million people in the UK have an ADHD diagnosis, NHS data show.

An additional 683,088 people had been referred for assessment by March 2026, an increase of more than 130,000 from the prior year.

“The low rates observed in older adults don’t necessarily mean that ADHD is uncommon in older age. Instead, they may reflect historical differences in recognition and access to diagnosis, particularly among generations who grew up before ADHD was widely recognised.”

The study was published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe.