Depression, Bipolar Disorder Cases Surge 47% in 6 Years, Under-10s See Dramatic Spike
Depression, Bipolar Disorder Cases Soar, Especially Among Children Under 10
The number of depression and bipolar disorder cases in South Korea has risen sharply in recent years. The increase in mental health disorders among children under 10 is particularly concerning, raising serious social alarms. On October 30, 2025, Kim Mi-ae, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, released an analysis of data submitted by the National Health Insurance Service. According to the data, the number of depression patients in South Korea increased by 47.0% from 752,976 in 2018 to 1,106,744 in 2024. Over the same period, medical expenses for depression patients also increased significantly from approximately 390.8 billion won to 761.5 billion won. This reflects both a change in social awareness of mental health issues and a real increase in the number of patients. In the first half of 2025 alone, there were 843,671 depression patients, with medical expenses reaching 393.2 billion won, indicating that the upward trend continues.
Bipolar disorder cases are showing a similar trend. The number of bipolar disorder patients increased by 45.7% from 95,911 in 2018 to 139,731 in 2024. Bipolar disorder medical expenses increased by 57.0% from approximately 116.1 billion won to 182.3 billion won. In the first half of 2025, there were 114,265 bipolar disorder patients, with medical expenses totaling 93.9 billion won. As of 2024, total medical expenses for depression and bipolar disorder amounted to 943.9 billion won, leading to a significant socioeconomic burden. The increase in these mental health disorders is not only a source of individual suffering but also a problem that cannot be overlooked due to its connection to the overall decline in social productivity. There are increasing calls for the government to take proactive measures.
Of particular note is the increase in depression patients under the age of 10. The number of depression patients under 10 years old surged from 967 in 2018 to 2,162 in 2024. This figure raises serious concerns about the mental health of children. The number of depression patients in their 30s increased from 90,156 in 2018 to 191,123 in 2024, depression patients in their 20s increased from 97,675 in 2018 to 194,638 in 2024, and depression patients in their teens increased from 37,250 in 2018 to 73,075 in 2024. As of 2024, depression patients from under 10 to their 30s accounted for 41.7% of the total. Mental health issues in the younger generation should be taken seriously as they can have a negative impact on various areas such as academics, employment, and social life.
The number of bipolar disorder patients under 10 years old also increased from 95 in 2018 to 408 in 2024, and the number of bipolar disorder patients in their teens increased by 90.5% over the same period. This can be interpreted as a red light for the mental health of future generations. As of 2024, 67.2% of depression patients and 62.4% of bipolar disorder patients were women. Mental health issues in women appear to be the result of a complex combination of various factors such as social roles, stress, and biological factors. Therefore, there are suggestions that mental health support policies tailored to gender are needed.
