If you have been recently diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), you may feel overwhelmed, scared and alone. But BPD is much more common than you probably think.
Learning the facts about the disorder, including prevalence statistics, can help you feel more empowered to seek help through therapy and support groups. Here are some relevant BPD facts and figures.
Prevalence
In the United States, recent research has shown that 1.6% of the population has BPD. That number may seem small, but when you consider just how large the United States is, you may realize that 1.6% represents quite a large number of people.
That percentage means that over four million people have BPD in America alone. While BPD is not as well known as other disorders, it is actually more common than illnesses like schizophrenia.
Gender Differences
Women are far more likely to be diagnosed with BPD than men. In fact, about 75% of people diagnosed with BPD are women; that's a ratio of 3 women to 1 man diagnosed with BPD. Researchers do not know why there is this gender difference.
It may be that women are more prone to BPD, women may be more likely to pursue treatment or that there are gender biases when it comes to diagnosis. For instance, men with symptoms of BPD may be more likely to be misdiagnosed with another condition like post-traumatic stress disorder or major depressive disorder.
Suicidality
Some of the most sobering borderline personality disorder statistics come from the research literature on BPD and suicidality. About 70% of people with BPD will make at least one suicide attempt in their lifetimes.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
In addition, between 8 and 10% of people with BPD will complete suicide; this rate is more than 50 times the rate of suicide in the general population. Why these rates are so high is currently unknown. It may because people with BPD don't know where to turn for treatment or are misdiagnosed and not treated appropriately.
Misdiagnosis
While 1.6% is the recorded percentage of people with BPD, the actual prevalence may be even higher. In a recent study, over 40% of people with BPD had been previously misdiagnosed with other disorders like bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder.
These illnesses are often cited, potentially because they are more well-known and more easily treated with medications than borderline personality disorder. It's also common for those with BPD to have comorbidities or other illnesses along with BPD.
In fact, as many as 20% of people with BPD have also been found to have bipolar disorder, making their diagnosis and treatment more complicated than treating one disease.
Prognosis
While BPD is a serious mental illness, it is by no means a life sentence. Research has shown that the prognosis for BPD is actually not as bad at once thought. Almost half of people who are diagnosed with BPD will not meet the criteria for a diagnosis just two years later. Ten years later, 88% of people who were once diagnosed with BPD no longer meet the criteria for a diagnosis.
Screening for Borderline Personality Disorder
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Chapman J, Jamil RT, Fleisher C. Borderline Personality Disorder. StatPearls Publishing.
Wedig MM, Silverman MH, Frankenburg FR, Reich DB, Fitzmaurice G, Zanarini MC. Predictors of suicide attempts in patients with borderline personality disorder over 16 years of prospective follow-up.Psychol Med. 2012;42(11):2395–2404. doi:10.1017/S0033291712000517
Ruggero CJ, Zimmerman M, Chelminski I, Young D. Borderline personality disorder and the misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder.J Psychiatr Res. 2010;44(6):405–408. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2009.09.011
Additional Reading
Amarine, MC, Frankenburg, FR, Hensen, J, Reich, DB, and Silk, KR. Predictions of the 10-year Course of Borderline Personality Disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163:827-832, 2006.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses-5th Edition, 2013.
Widiger, T. Invited Essay: Sex Biases in the Diagnosis of Personality Disorders. Journal of Personality Disorders, 12:95-118, 1998.
Work Group on Borderline Personality Disorder. Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158:1-52.
By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD
Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University.
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FAQs
It's estimated that 1.6% of the adult U.S. population has BPD, but that number may be as high as 5.9%. Nearly 75% of people diagnosed with BPD are women.
What are the relevant US statistics of BPD? ›
Prevalence. In the United States, recent research has shown that 1.6% of the population has BPD.
Why is BPD life expectancy 27? ›
Results: People with Borderline Personality Disorder have a reduced life expectancy of some 20 years, attributable largely to physical health maladies, notably cardiovascular. Risk factors include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet and smoking.
Why does BPD have a bad reputation? ›
Defined as a chronic condition involving emotional instability, relationship problems, and identity disturbances, BPD carries with it a high probability of need for treatment. Rather than evoking compassion for the people whose lives are so critically impacted by the disorder, “in practice it became a literal stigma.”
What is the success rate of borderline personality disorder? ›
Follow up studies of people with BPD receiving treatment found a borderline personality disorder treatment success rate of about 50% over a 10-year period. BPD takes time to improve, but treatment does work.
What 75% of people have BPD? ›
Nearly 75% of people diagnosed with BPD are people assigned female at birth (AFAB). Research suggests that people assigned male at birth (AMAB) may be equally affected by BPD, but they may be misdiagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression.
Is BPD overdiagnosed? ›
Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for individuals with BPD to be misdiagnosed. In fact, studies show that 40% of people with this condition have received a wrong diagnosis at some point in their lifetime.
What's the hardest mental illness to live with? ›
Not only is BPD one of the most painful mental illnesses, but it's also intensified by stigma and being misunderstood by others. Fortunately, borderline personality disorder is a treatable condition, and the pain doesn't have to be endless.
Does BPD get worse with age? ›
Borderline personality disorder usually begins by early adulthood. The condition is most serious in young adulthood. Mood swings, anger and impulsiveness often get better with age. But the main issues of self-image and fear of being abandoned, as well as relationship issues, go on.
Is BPD genetic or trauma? ›
The development of BPD is believed to be dependent on both genetic and environmental factors, such as childhood trauma, that can affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neurotransmission process, endogenous opioid system, and neuroplasticity [4].
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health condition that impacts mood, behavior, and relationships. However, it's essential to understand that individuals with BPD are not defined solely by their diagnosis. Many are incredibly talented and intelligent; some even fall within the' genius category.
Are borderlines highly intelligent? ›
Many individuals with BPD are highly intelligent and are aware that their reactions may seem strong. These individuals often report feeling that emotions control their lives or even that they feel things more intensely than other people.
What are BPD eyes? ›
BPD is marked by intense emotional experiences that can be difficult to manage or regulate. When individuals with BPD try to manage these intense emotions, they may appear vacant, detached, or devoid of emotion, leading to the interpretation of "empty eyes."
At what age does BPD get better? ›
It is commonly believed that some features of borderline personality disorder improve as individuals reach their late 30s and 40s.
What does high functioning BPD look like? ›
People with high-functioning BPD experience frequent negative thoughts, fear of rejection, and regret about expressing their feelings. Individuals with quiet BPD may oscillate between clinging to people around them in need of validation and them pushing them away to avoid criticism.
Is BPD neurodivergent? ›
There is currently no consensus on whether people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are neurodivergent. BPD has some important similarities with neurodivergent diagnoses. However, because the definition of neurodivergence is still evolving, it is not yet certain whether BPD falls into this category.
What is the percentage of people with BPD in the world? ›
About 1% to 2% of the general population has BPD. It's usually diagnosed in teens and young adults, though it may also be diagnosed later in life. It seems to affect more women than men. Family members—You are five times more likely to develop BPD if a close family member like a parent or sibling has BPD.
What are some important facts about BPD? ›
People with borderline personality disorder may experience intense mood swings and feel uncertainty about how they see themselves. Their feelings for others can change quickly, and swing from extreme closeness to extreme dislike. These changing feelings can lead to unstable relationships and emotional pain.
What is BPD in America? ›
Borderline personality disorder is a mental illness that severely impacts a person's ability to manage their emotions. This loss of emotional control can increase impulsivity, affect how a person feels about themselves, and negatively impact their relationships with others.
What percent of people recover from BPD? ›
Recovery in borderline personality disorder (BPD) has predominantly been viewed in the context of symptom improvement and no longer meeting diagnostic criteria. Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that symptom remission is a common occurrence, with remission rates ranging between 33 and 99% [1].
