A GBD 2021 analysis among young people (aged 10–24 years) across the G20 countries revealed schizophrenia incidence was generally higher in males, although prevalence showed more variable sex differences across countries.3
In an analysis of people aged 15–39 years, the GBD 2021 study reported higher ASPR estimates in males: 384.6 per 100,000 males (95% UI: 295.4, 483.1) and 344.0 (95% UI: 264.1, 434.0) per 100,000 females, with prevalence consistently ~1.2-fold higher in males than in females.4
The male-to-female ratio for schizophrenia prevalence inverts from more males in younger age groups to more females in older age groups, reflecting earlier age at onset in males and longer life expectancy in females.5
Abbreviations: ASPR=age-standardized prevalence rate; G20=Group of 20; GBD=Global Burden of Diseases; UI=uncertainty interval
References:
1.Solmi M, Radua J, Olivola M. et al. Age at onset of mental disorders worldwide: large-scale meta-analysis of 192 epidemiological studies. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27: 281–295.
2.Zhan Z, Wang J, Shen T, et al. Results of the global burden of disease study for schizophrenia: trends from 1990 to 2021 and projections to 2050. Front Psychiatry 2025; 16: 1629032.
3.Liao W, Chen Z, Wu W, et al. Trends and future burden of schizophrenia in youth across G20 countries: a systematic analysis of the global burden of disease 2021 study. BMC Psychiatry 2025; 25: 1101.
4.Peng B, Hu F, He Q, et al. Global, regional, and national burden and trends of schizophrenia among adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 years from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the global burden of disease study 2021. Front Psychiatry 2025; 16: 1682955.
5.Solmi M, Seitidis G, Mavridis D, et al. Incidence, prevalence, and global burden of schizophrenia – data, with critical appraisal, from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28: 5319–5327.
