Grief Statistics in the United States

Grief is a common experience in the United States that affects thousands of individuals across all age groups. 

Emotional and physical symptoms of grief are widely reported, with many people experiencing sadness, depression, fatigue, and changes in appetite following a loss. A significant number of bereaved adults also develop prolonged or complicated grief. 

Despite its widespread impact, many people struggle with limited access to grief support and resources, and awareness about the need for better support remains a key issue.

Read on to learn important statistics about grief in the United States. 

Key Takeaways:

• 780 out of 1,084 U.S. participants in a 2019 WebMD survey reported experiencing grief due to a life event within the past 3 years.
• 88% and 64% of grievers experienced emotional and physical symptoms of grief, respectively. Sadness (76%) depression (43%), fatigue (59%), and changes in appetite (48%) are the most common symptoms. 
• 7%-10% of bereaved adults develop persistent symptoms of prolonged grief disorder.
• 9% of bereaved women aged 65 and older experience prolonged grief that significantly impacts their mental health and well-being.
• In a WebMD survey, 32% of respondents reported grieving the death of a family member or close friend (excluding spouse and children) as a primary cause of grief.
• 48% of respondents in the 2019 WebMD survey reported that their most intense grief emotions eased within 6 months after the loss of a loved one.
• On average, 1,089 children in the U.S. become newly bereaved every day, according to the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.
• 64% of teachers and 71% of afterschool professionals have personally observed the negative effects of grief on children.
• 1 in 12 children in the U.S. will experience the loss of a parent or sibling, resulting in 6.3 million in grief by age 18 and 15.2 million in grief by age 25.
• A national poll from 2011-2012 found that 42% of bereaved children found attending grief groups helpful in processing their emotions and connecting with others.
• Workplace grief resulted in a productivity loss of over $75 billion in 2003 as estimated by The Grief Recovery Institute.
• 74% of respondents in the 2022 State of Grief Report expressed a preference for discussing lighter topics more than 2 years after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 20%-50% of individuals undergoing treatment for persistent grief disorder reported experiencing suicidal thoughts in a 2021 study.
• In a study, 75% of individuals diagnosed with prolonged grief disorder had at least 1 comorbid psychiatric condition, with major depression being the most common. 

Prevalence of Grief in U.S. Adults

• Out of 1,084 participants from the United States who took WebMD’s survey, “Grief: Beyond the 5 Stages,” conducted from May 16 to May 19, 2019:
  • 780 reported experiencing grief due to a life event within the previous 3 years. 
  • 88% experienced emotional symptoms while grieving, out of which sadness (76%) and depression (43%) were the most common emotional responses.
  • 68% reported physical symptoms during grief. Fatigue (59%) and changes in appetite (48%) were the most frequently reported physical effects.
• Szuhany et al.’s 2021 study “Prolonged Grief Disorder: Course, Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment,” reports that 7%-10% of bereaved adults develop persistent symptoms of prolonged grief disorder. 
• Szuhany et al.’s 2021 study, “Prolonged Grief Disorder: Course, Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment,” also describes trajectory models of the progression of grief over a span of up to 3 years post-loss as follows:

Grief trajectory	Percentage of bereaved individuals
Stable, low levels of grief	26%-45%
High grief initially, decreasing over time	16%-20% (high)30%-33% (moderate)
Late onset of grief	10%
Stable, high grief	7%-10%

• Shear et al.’s 2014 study published in JAMA Psychiatry, “Treatment of Complicated Grief in Elderly Persons,” found that approximately 9% of bereaved women aged 65 and older experience prolonged grief.
• As of January 2024, the hashtag #grief had been used in over 3.3 million Instagram posts, an increase from 2.8 million in February 2023. 
• The 2017 Bereavement Survey by the New York Life Foundation, which included 1,004 Americans, highlighted the following perceptions about grief as identified by individuals who lost a parent during childhood: 

Grief in Children in the U.S.

• The Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM) reported that in 2022, an average of 1,089 children in the United States became newly bereaved each day. 
• According to the New York Foundation’s 2024 State of Grief Report:
  • 97% of teachers and 94% of afterschool professionals believe that grief can negatively affect a child’s learning.
  • 64% of teachers and 71% of afterschool professionals report having personally observed the negative effects of grief on children in their classrooms or after-school programs.
• The 2024 national report from CBEM found that 1 in 12 children in the U.S. will experience the loss of a parent or sibling, due to which 8.6% or approximately 6.3 million will be bereaved by age 18. This number more than doubles to 15.2 million youth by age 25.

Causes of Grief in the U.S.

• The causes of grief as reported by 1,084 participants in the 2019 WebMD survey were the following: 

Duration of Grief

• 48% of respondents to the 2019 WebMD survey reported that their most intense emotions eased within 6 months, and 67% said they had recovered within a year. The cause of grief had an impact on the duration such that:
  • 66% of those who lost a pet stated their grief lasted less than 6 months.
  • 48% of those grieving the death of a close family member or friend said their grief lasted less than 6 months. 
  • 45% mourning the end of a friendship or relationship experienced grief for less than 6 months. 

Grief and Bereavement in COVID-19

• Burns et al.’s study, “COVID-19 Pandemic’s Disproportionate Impact on Childhood Bereavement for Youth of Color,” discovered that over 700,000 children in the United States lost a parent in 2020 and 2021, becoming newly bereaved. The impact was disproportionately higher among BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and Latinx communities. 
• Verdery et al.’s 2020 study, “Tracking the Reach of COVID-19 Kin Loss With a Bereavement Multiplier Applied to the United States,” estimates that, on average, each COVID-19 death resulted in approximately 9 bereaved individuals.

Impacts of Grief in the U.S.

• Lancel et al.’s 2020 study, “Sleep Disturbances in Bereavement: A Systematic Review,” found that approximately 50% of individuals with complicated grief, even years after their loss, reported frequent grief-related sleep issues, while between 72% and 89% were poor sleepers.

• The New York Foundation’s 2024 State of Grief Report states:
  • 63% of respondents say they have time off specifically for bereavement, with only 47% indicating that this time off is paid.
  • 57% of respondents feel that their company offers adequate time off for grieving employees. 
  • 76% of respondents consider bereavement-related benefits to be somewhat or very important when choosing a new job.
  • 85% of respondents expressed that they would be proud to work for a company that has publicly pledged to support grief.
• A 2003 study by The Grief Recovery Institute estimated that workplace grief resulted in a productivity loss of over $75 billion for businesses. 
• Szuhany et al.’s 2021 study “Prolonged Grief Disorder: Course, Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment,” indicates that between 20% and more than 50% of individuals seeking treatment for persistent grief disorder report experiencing suicidal thoughts. 

Grief and Mental Health Comorbidities

• In Simon et al.’s study, “The Prevalence and Correlates of Psychiatric Comorbidity in Individuals With Complicated Grief,” 75% of individuals diagnosed with prolonged grief disorder were found to have a current comorbid psychiatric condition. The most commonly reported co-morbid disorders in this sample were as follows: 

• In the same study by Simon et al., only 24.76% of individuals under treatment for complicated grief were found not to have any co-morbid mental health disorder. 

Grief Management and Treatment

• The New York Foundation’s 2022 State of Grief Report revealed that:
  • 74% of respondents preferred to discuss lighter topics more than 2 years after the COVID-19 pandemic began. Despite this desire for a shift in focus, 78% believed more efforts are needed to raise awareness about grief support services, and 68% wished for a more open conversation about grief in the U.S.
  • 68% of Gen Z respondents reported that they would need grief support if a loved one were to die, but only 52% were aware of the services available to them.
  • 66% of all adults said they would need grief support in case of the loss of a loved one, and 66% were aware of the resources available.
  • Only 28% of employed adults were aware of their workplace’s bereavement policies, while 30% were unsure whether their workplace provides such policies.

• According to the New York Life Foundation’s 2017 Bereavement Survey of 1,004 Americans, 54% of individuals who experienced the loss of a parent during childhood reported difficulty accessing grief resources afterward. 
• A national poll conducted in collaboration with local grief support centers, the New York Life Foundation, and the National Alliance for Grieving Children surveyed 531 bereaved children and teenagers aged 18 and under who had lost a parent or sibling in 2011-2012 and found that:
  • 42% found attending a grief group helpful.
  • 76% appreciated meeting others experiencing similar grief.
  • 62% valued making new friends through the grief support group.
• Johnson et al.’s 2007 study, “Stigmatization and Receptivity to Mental Health Services Among Recently Bereaved Adults,” revealed that over 90% of bereaved participants felt reassured that a diagnosis indicated a recognizable psychiatric condition. Additionally, all participants (100%) expressed interest in seeking treatment for their severe grief symptoms. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between Grief and Bereavement?

Bereavement refers to the occurrence of a loss, while grief is used to describe the emotional, cognitive, functional, and behavioral reactions to the loss. 

How Long Does Grief Last?

Uncomplicated, or normal, grief lasts for up to 6 months. If grief symptoms persist for more than 6 months, it is called complicated grief or prolonged grief disorder.

Can Grief Cause Addiction?

Yes, grief can cause addiction. A 2019 review examined the link between complicated grief and substance misuse, analyzing 12 studies from 1997 to 2017. It found that substance misuse heightens the risk of complicated grief, while complicated grief predicts higher smoking and alcohol dependence. Learn more about addiction in our post called “Addiction Recovery Statistics in the United States”.