The numbers behind the choice
Meditation Statistics 2026
This page gathers the numbers that matter when you are choosing a meditation app or program: how many people meditate, how many use apps, how quickly users drop off, what controlled trials show, how safe the practice is, and what employers offer. Usage data are the latest national estimates, for the US in 2022 and Australia and New Zealand in 2023. Most research figures come from trials and meta-analyses published in 2025 and 2026, with a few landmark studies from 2014 to 2022 kept and dated. Company and employer figures are from 2025 and 2026.
By the KeenVerdict research desk · Updated November 4, 2026 · 45 figures from 21 sources
50 of 50 source quotes re-checked against the original pages on November 4, 2026
The short answer
About 17.3% of US adults meditated in 2022, up from 7.5% in 2002, according to the National Health Interview Survey reported by NIH's NCCIH. Research published in 2025 and 2026 finds mindfulness programs reduce stress, anxiety and depression with small to moderate effects, including a JAMA Network Open trial of 1,458 employees in which a digital program cut perceived stress (Cohen d 0.85). Apps struggle to keep users: a JMIR study found meditation apps retained 4.7% of new users after 30 days.
Key figures
- 17.3%The share of US adults who practiced meditation more than doubled from 7.5% in 2002 to 17.3% in 2022, according to the National Health Interview Survey, the latest year with national data.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH)
- 58% to 75%Between 58% and 75% of US meditators have used a meditation app at least once, and 21% to 23% use one regularly, according to cross-sectional studies cited in a 2024 Scientific Reports paper.Scientific Reports (Davies et al.)
- 4.7%Mindfulness and meditation apps retained a median 4.7% of users at day 30 in the same 2017 to 2018 data, better than breathing exercise apps at 0.0% but behind peer support apps at 8.9%.Journal of Medical Internet Research (Baumel et al.)
- 0.85A randomized trial of 1,458 US academic medical center employees, published in JAMA Network Open in 2025, found an 8-week digital meditation program reduced perceived stress with a Cohen d of 0.85 against a waiting list.JAMA Network Open (Radin et al.)
- 0.71The stress reduction in the same 2025 trial held at 4 months after randomization, with a Cohen d of 0.71.JAMA Network Open (Radin et al.)
- 0.53A 2026 meta-analysis of 17 randomized trials with 1,641 non-clinical adults found mindfulness programs lowered perceived stress by a standardized mean difference of 0.53.npj Mental Health Research (Rajan et al.)
- 276In a 2022 randomized trial of 276 adults with anxiety disorders, an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course was noninferior to the antidepressant escitalopram.JAMA Psychiatry (Hoge et al.)
- 83%83% of large US firms (more than 200 workers) that offer health benefits offered at least one wellness program in 2025, such as smoking cessation, weight loss or behavioral coaching.KFF
Our reading of the data
Meditation is mainstream. NCCIH reports that the share of US adults who meditated more than doubled from 7.5% in 2002 to 17.3% in 2022, making it the most used of seven complementary health approaches. A 2024 Scientific Reports analysis puts the total at about 60.53 million adults, and a 2023 national survey found 32.8% of Australian adults meditated in the past year.
Apps are how most people start, and how most people stop. Studies cited in Scientific Reports estimate 58% to 75% of US meditators have tried an app, but only 21% to 23% use one regularly. A JMIR study of real-world usage found meditation apps kept a median 4.7% of new users at day 30. Dose matters: in a 2025 JAMA Network Open trial, employees who practiced 5 to 10 minutes a day cut stress more than lighter users. Pick the app you will open daily and test that habit during the free trial.
Newer evidence supports meditation as a modest tool, not a cure. A 2026 npj Mental Health Research meta-analysis of 17 trials found mindfulness lowered perceived stress (SMD 0.53), a 2026 Clinical Psychology Review analysis found effects of g = 0.59 for depression and 0.61 for anxiety, and a 2025 npj Digital Medicine review found digital programs improved sleep (g = 0.38) at very low certainty. Against active comparisons, effects shrink: a 2025 Stress and Health review found no significant work performance gain over active controls. The strongest single result remains a 2022 JAMA Psychiatry trial in which an 8-week MBSR course matched escitalopram for anxiety with far fewer side effects.
Employers are the other big buyer. KFF found 83% of large US firms offering health benefits had at least one wellness program in 2025. Headspace's 2026 workforce survey says only 12% of organizations invest mainly in prevention and only 22% track whether staff use mental health benefits. Sword Health's September 2026 deal to acquire Headspace, which says it has reached 100 million people, shows the category consolidating around clinical and AI care.
How many people meditate
- 1.
The share of US adults who practiced meditation more than doubled from 7.5% in 2002 to 17.3% in 2022, according to the National Health Interview Survey, the latest year with national data.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety (Jun 2022)
Source quote
According to the National Health Interview Survey, an annual nationally representative survey, the percentage of U.S. adults who practiced meditation more than doubled between 2002 and 2022, from 7.5 to 17.3 percent.
- 2.
Meditation was the most used of seven complementary health approaches among US adults in 2022, ahead of yoga at 15.8% and chiropractic care at 11.0%, per NCCIH.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety (Jun 2022)
Source quote
Of seven complementary health approaches for which data were collected in the 2022 survey, meditation was the most popular, beating out yoga (used by 15.8 percent of adults), chiropractic care (11.0 percent), massage therapy (10.9 percent), guided imagery/progressive muscle relaxation (6.4 percent), acupuncture (2.2 percent), and naturopathy (1.3 percent).
- 3.
About 60.53 million US adults, or 18.3%, used meditation in 2022, based on a population-weighted analysis of the National Health Interview Survey published in Scientific Reports in 2024.
Scientific Reports (Davies et al.), Prevalence and 20-year trends in meditation, yoga, guided imagery and progressive relaxation use among US adults from 2002 to 2022 (Jul 2024)
Source quote
The overall use of meditation (18.3%, 60.53 million), yoga (16.8%, 55.78 million) and guided imagery/progressive relaxation (6.7%, 22.22 million) increased significantly from 2002 to 2022.
- 4.
57.4% of US adults who practiced yoga in 2022 also practiced meditation as part of yoga.
National Center for Health Statistics (CDC), Yoga Among Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2022 (NCHS Data Brief No. 501) (Jun 2024)
Source quote
In 2022, among those who practiced yoga, the age-adjusted percentage of adults who practiced meditation as part of yoga was 57.4% ( Figure 3 , Table 3 ).
- 5.
32.8% of adults in Australia and 24.9% in New Zealand used meditation in the past year, in a nationally representative 2023 survey published in 2025.
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (Davies et al.), Prevalence and predictors of meditation use in Australia and New Zealand: results from a nationally representative survey (Dec 2025)
Source quote
We estimate that 41.5% of Australian (~ 8.6 M) and 35.7% of New Zealand (~ 1.5 M) adults have ever used meditation, while 32.8% (6.8 M) and 24.9% (1.0 M), respectively, used meditation in the past year.
Chart
Share of US adults using mind and body practices, 2022
Population-weighted National Health Interview Survey data, US adults, use in the past 12 months, 2022.
- Meditation18.3%
- Yoga16.8%
- Guided imagery or progressive relaxation6.7%
Source: Scientific Reports (Davies et al.), Prevalence and 20-year trends in meditation, yoga, guided imagery and progressive relaxation use among US adults from 2002 to 2022
Meditation apps: reach and scale
- 6.
Between 58% and 75% of US meditators have used a meditation app at least once, and 21% to 23% use one regularly, according to cross-sectional studies cited in a 2024 Scientific Reports paper.
Scientific Reports (Davies et al.), Prevalence and 20-year trends in meditation, yoga, guided imagery and progressive relaxation use among US adults from 2002 to 2022 (Jul 2024)
Source quote
with recent cross-sectional data suggesting that between 58–75% of meditators in the US have used a meditation app at least once, with 21–23% using them regularly
- 7.
Headspace (35.6%) and Calm (22.9%) were the most used apps among 536 recent meditation app users in five English-speaking countries surveyed in 2023, per a study published in 2026.
Journal of Medical Internet Research (Adams et al.), Engagement With Meditation Apps: Cross-Sectional Survey of Use and Associations (Feb 2026)
Source quote
The most frequently used apps were Headspace (n=191, 35.6%) and Calm (n=123, 22.9%), which together accounted for 58.6% of the sample (n=314).
- 8.
Headspace has reached 100 million people across 200 countries and regions, according to Sword Health's September 2026 announcement that it will acquire Headspace.
Sword Health, Sword to acquire Headspace, bringing AI Care to the world's most trusted mental health brand (Sep 2026)
Source quote
Headspace has touched the lives of 100 million people across 200 countries and regions, and its clinical foundation is equally deep, supported by 84 peer-reviewed studies demonstrating the efficacy of its approach.
- 9.
Headspace cites 84 peer-reviewed studies supporting the efficacy of its approach, according to the same 2026 Sword Health announcement.
Sword Health, Sword to acquire Headspace, bringing AI Care to the world's most trusted mental health brand (Sep 2026)
Source quote
Headspace has touched the lives of 100 million people across 200 countries and regions, and its clinical foundation is equally deep, supported by 84 peer-reviewed studies demonstrating the efficacy of its approach.
- 10.
Sword Health agreed in September 2026 to acquire Headspace, with the deal expected to close by the start of Q4 2026.
Sword Health, Sword to acquire Headspace, bringing AI Care to the world's most trusted mental health brand (Sep 2026)
Source quote
The acquisition is expected to close by the beginning of Q4 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
How long people stick with meditation apps
- 11.
The median mental health app kept 3.9% of new users at day 15 and 3.3% at day 30, in a JMIR study of real-world Android usage data from 2017 and 2018, still the most detailed independent benchmark.
Journal of Medical Internet Research (Baumel et al.), Objective User Engagement With Mental Health Apps: Systematic Search and Panel-Based Usage Analysis (Sep 2019)
Source quote
Furthermore, general user retention is poor, with a median 15-day retention of 3.9% and 30-day retention of 3.3%.
- 12.
Mindfulness and meditation apps retained a median 4.7% of users at day 30 in the same 2017 to 2018 data, better than breathing exercise apps at 0.0% but behind peer support apps at 8.9%.
Journal of Medical Internet Research (Baumel et al.), Objective User Engagement With Mental Health Apps: Systematic Search and Panel-Based Usage Analysis (Sep 2019)
Source quote
User 30-day retention was significantly lower for breathing exercise apps (median 0.0%) than for all other incorporated techniques (mindfulness/meditation: 4.7%; trackers: 6.1%; peer support: 8.9%), except for psychoeducation, which exhibited a pattern similar to the breathing exercise apps at 30-day retention.
- 13.
25% of recent meditation app users reported more than 11 sessions a month, about one every three days, in a 2023 survey published in JMIR in 2026; most completed only a few minutes across limited sessions.
Journal of Medical Internet Research (Adams et al.), Engagement With Meditation Apps: Cross-Sectional Survey of Use and Associations (Feb 2026)
Source quote
Despite generally low engagement, 134 out of 536 (25%) users reported more than 11 sessions per month (approximately 1 session every 3 days)
- 14.
In a randomized trial published in 2025, employees who used a meditation app 5 to 9.9 minutes a day cut their perceived stress score by 6.58 points more than those using it under 5 minutes a day.
JAMA Network Open (Radin et al.), Digital Meditation to Target Employee Stress: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Jan 2025)
Source quote
Those using the app from 5 to 9.9 min/d vs less than 5 min/d showed greater reduction in stress (mean PSS score difference, −6.58; 95% CI, −7.44 to −5.73).
Chart
Share of new users who open a mental health app again, by day
Median across popular Android mental health apps with retention data, August 2017 to July 2018.
- Day 169.4%
- Day 153.9%
- Day 303.3%
Source: Journal of Medical Internet Research (Baumel et al.), Objective User Engagement With Mental Health Apps: Systematic Search and Panel-Based Usage Analysis
What controlled trials show
- 15.
A randomized trial of 1,458 US academic medical center employees, published in JAMA Network Open in 2025, found an 8-week digital meditation program reduced perceived stress with a Cohen d of 0.85 against a waiting list.
JAMA Network Open (Radin et al.), Digital Meditation to Target Employee Stress: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Jan 2025)
Source quote
Those randomized to meditation (n = 728) vs waiting list (n = 730) showed improvements in PSS (Cohen d, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73-0.96) and in all secondary outcome measures (eg, job strain: Cohen d, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.23-0.46) at 8 weeks.
- 16.
Employees in the same 2025 JAMA Network Open trial also reported lower job strain after 8 weeks of digital meditation, with a Cohen d of 0.34 against the waiting list.
JAMA Network Open (Radin et al.), Digital Meditation to Target Employee Stress: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Jan 2025)
Source quote
Those randomized to meditation (n = 728) vs waiting list (n = 730) showed improvements in PSS (Cohen d, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73-0.96) and in all secondary outcome measures (eg, job strain: Cohen d, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.23-0.46) at 8 weeks.
- 17.
The stress reduction in the same 2025 trial held at 4 months after randomization, with a Cohen d of 0.71.
JAMA Network Open (Radin et al.), Digital Meditation to Target Employee Stress: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Jan 2025)
Source quote
These improvements were maintained at 4 months after randomization (PSS: Cohen d, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59-0.84; job strain: Cohen d, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.25-0.50).
- 18.
A 2026 meta-analysis of 17 randomized trials with 1,641 non-clinical adults found mindfulness programs lowered perceived stress by a standardized mean difference of 0.53.
npj Mental Health Research (Rajan et al.), Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on perceived stress among non-clinical adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Feb 2026)
Source quote
Post-intervention, MBIs were associated with significantly lower perceived stress (SMD = −0.53, 95% CI = −0.72 to −0.33, p < 0.00001).
- 19.
A 2026 Clinical Psychology Review meta-analysis of 43 depression and 37 anxiety trials found second-generation mindfulness programs reduced depression (g = 0.59) and anxiety (g = 0.61).
Clinical Psychology Review (Xu et al.), The effectiveness of second-generation mindfulness interventions on anxiety and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Feb 2026)
Source quote
SG-MBIs significantly reduced depressive (g = 0.59, 95% CI [0.41, 0.78]) and anxiety symptoms (g = 0.61, 95% CI [0.41, 0.81]); effects remained significant after outlier removal (depression: g = 0.44; anxiety: g = 0.40).
- 20.
In the same 2026 meta-analysis, follow-up data from 20 trials showed sustained reductions in depression (g = 0.70).
Clinical Psychology Review (Xu et al.), The effectiveness of second-generation mindfulness interventions on anxiety and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Feb 2026)
Source quote
Follow-up data (k = 20) indicated sustained depression reductions (g = 0.70).
- 21.
Standalone digital mindfulness programs improved sleep with an effect size of g = 0.38 across 18 randomized trials, in a 2025 npj Digital Medicine meta-analysis rated very low certainty.
npj Digital Medicine (Lee et al.), Systematic review and meta-analysis of effects of standalone digital mindfulness-based interventions on sleep in adults (Dec 2025)
Source quote
Standalone DMBIs significantly improved sleep health with a moderate effect size (Hedges’ g = 0.38, p < 0.001; very low-certainty evidence) and mental health with a moderate effect size (Hedges’ g = 0.33, p < 0.01; very low-certainty evidence).
- 22.
The same 2025 meta-analysis found standalone digital mindfulness programs improved mental health with an effect size of g = 0.33, also at very low certainty.
npj Digital Medicine (Lee et al.), Systematic review and meta-analysis of effects of standalone digital mindfulness-based interventions on sleep in adults (Dec 2025)
Source quote
Standalone DMBIs significantly improved sleep health with a moderate effect size (Hedges’ g = 0.38, p < 0.001; very low-certainty evidence) and mental health with a moderate effect size (Hedges’ g = 0.33, p < 0.01; very low-certainty evidence).
- 23.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy beat treatment as usual for difficult-to-treat depression by a standardized mean difference of 0.40, in a 2026 individual participant data meta-analysis of 7 trials and 777 patients.
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (Barnhofer et al.), Efficacy and Moderators of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Difficult-to-Treat Depression: A Systematic Review and Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis (Jun 2026)
Source quote
MBCT was likely superior to TAU at post-treatment (standardised mean difference = −0.40; 95% credible interval [CrI] = −0.64 to −0.16) and medium-term follow-up (−0.41; 95% CrI = −0.76 to −0.02), with posterior probabilities of 92% and 85% of surpassing a clinical relevance threshold of d = −0.24, respectively.
- 24.
The benefit of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy over usual care for difficult-to-treat depression held at medium-term follow-up (SMD 0.41), with no evidence it beat other active psychological treatments, per the same 2026 analysis.
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (Barnhofer et al.), Efficacy and Moderators of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Difficult-to-Treat Depression: A Systematic Review and Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis (Jun 2026)
Source quote
MBCT was likely superior to TAU at post-treatment (standardised mean difference = −0.40; 95% credible interval [CrI] = −0.64 to −0.16) and medium-term follow-up (−0.41; 95% CrI = −0.76 to −0.02), with posterior probabilities of 92% and 85% of surpassing a clinical relevance threshold of d = −0.24, respectively.
- 25.
In a 2025 randomized trial of 138 university staff, Headspace users reported less subjective stress than a wait-list group by week 2 of an 8-week program.
Annals of Behavioral Medicine (Zawadzki et al.), App-based mindfulness meditation reduces stress in novice meditators: a randomized controlled trial of headspace using ecological momentary assessment (Jan 2025)
Source quote
Non-faculty employees ( n = 138; age M = 38.19; 75.36% female; 54.5% White, 27.54% Hispanic; 51.45% with a professional degree) from a university in California’s Central Valley were randomized into either the Headspace condition (instructed to complete 10 minutes of meditation daily) or wait-list (inactive) control group.
- 26.
A 2025 meta-analysis of 99 studies with 16,054 participants found mindfulness programs improved task performance against passive controls (g = 0.25) but not against active controls (g = 0.12, not significant).
Stress and Health (Vainre et al.), Mindfulness-Based Programmes for Work Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials (Dec 2025)
Source quote
MBPs were found to improve task performance at post‐intervention compared to passive control groups ( k = 22, Hedges' g = 0.25, 95% CI 0.06–0.44, p = 0.01, I 2 = 81.48%) but not compared to active control groups ( k = 4, Hedges' g = 0.12, 95% CI −0.3–0.55, p = 0.43, I 2 = 62.87%).
- 27.
The 2025 work performance meta-analysis pooled 99 studies with 16,054 participants and rated confidence in its results as very low.
Stress and Health (Vainre et al.), Mindfulness-Based Programmes for Work Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials (Dec 2025)
Source quote
We conducted pairwise random‐effects meta‐analyses of 99 studies ( N = 16,054).
- 28.
Mindfulness meditation programs reduced anxiety with effect sizes of 0.22 to 0.38 and depression with 0.23 to 0.30 over 2 to 6 months, in a 2014 JAMA Internal Medicine meta-analysis of 47 trials.
JAMA Internal Medicine (Goyal et al.), Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (Mar 2014)
Source quote
Over the course of 2–6 months, mindfulness meditation program effect size estimates ranged from 0.22–0.38 for anxiety symptoms and 0.23–0.30 for depressive symptoms.
- 29.
Against active comparison programs, mindfulness improved only depression, by a standardized mean difference of 0.46, with no significant evidence for anxiety or distress, in a 2021 PLOS Medicine meta-analysis of 136 trials.
PLOS Medicine (Galante et al.), Mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in adults in nonclinical settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (Jan 2021)
Source quote
Compared with nonspecific active control conditions, in most but not all scenarios MBPs improved average depression (6 trials; SMD = −0.46; 95% CI −0.81 to −0.10; p –value = 0.012, 95% PI −1.57 to 0.66), with no statistically significant evidence for improving anxiety or distress and no reliable data on well–being.
- 30.
Against placebo-style attention controls, mental health apps improved depressive symptoms by only g = 0.12, compared with g = 0.32 against waitlists, in a 2019 World Psychiatry meta-analysis of 66 trials.
World Psychiatry (Linardon et al.), The efficacy of app-supported smartphone interventions for mental health problems: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Sep 2019)
Source quote
The pooled effect size was small but still statistically significant when attention/placebo control conditions were used (g=0.12), and larger when waitlist (g=0.32) or informational resources (g=0.39) were used as control conditions.
Chart
Effect of second-generation mindfulness programs on depression and anxiety (Hedges g)
Meta-analysis of randomized trials in adults, 43 depression and 37 anxiety studies, published 2026.
- Depression0.59
- Anxiety0.61
- Depression, outliers removed0.44
- Anxiety, outliers removed0.4
Source: Clinical Psychology Review (Xu et al.), The effectiveness of second-generation mindfulness interventions on anxiety and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Meditation versus medication, and safety
- 31.
In a 2022 randomized trial of 276 adults with anxiety disorders, an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course was noninferior to the antidepressant escitalopram.
JAMA Psychiatry (Hoge et al.), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction vs Escitalopram for the Treatment of Adults With Anxiety Disorders: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Nov 2022)
Source quote
In this randomized clinical trial of 276 adults with anxiety disorders, 8-week treatment with mindfulness-based stress reduction was noninferior to escitalopram.
- 32.
In the same 2022 trial, 78.6% of participants assigned to escitalopram had at least one study-related adverse event, against 15.4% of those assigned to mindfulness training.
JAMA Psychiatry (Hoge et al.), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction vs Escitalopram for the Treatment of Adults With Anxiety Disorders: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Nov 2022)
Source quote
At least 1 study-related adverse event occurred for 110 participants randomized to escitalopram (78.6%) and 21 participants randomized to MBSR (15.4%).
- 33.
In two trials of a digital meditation program published in 2026, 27.9% and 10.1% of participants reported at least one adverse experience during the study.
JMIR Mental Health (Beloborodova et al.), Prevalence and Predictors of Self-Reported Adverse Experiences in Digital Meditation Training: 2 Randomized Controlled Trials (Jun 2026)
Source quote
In studies 1 and 2, 27.9% (88/315) and 10.1% (40/396) of participants, respectively, reported at least one AEx during the study period, with 6.7% (21/315) and 3% (12/396) reporting functional impairment, largely aligning with previous research.
- 34.
6.7% and 3% of participants in the two digital meditation trials reported an adverse experience with functional impairment, per the 2026 JMIR Mental Health study.
JMIR Mental Health (Beloborodova et al.), Prevalence and Predictors of Self-Reported Adverse Experiences in Digital Meditation Training: 2 Randomized Controlled Trials (Jun 2026)
Source quote
In studies 1 and 2, 27.9% (88/315) and 10.1% (40/396) of participants, respectively, reported at least one AEx during the study period, with 6.7% (21/315) and 3% (12/396) reporting functional impairment, largely aligning with previous research.
- 35.
Among participants who reported an adverse experience in the two 2026 trials, 89.8% and 90% said they were glad to have learned to meditate.
JMIR Mental Health (Beloborodova et al.), Prevalence and Predictors of Self-Reported Adverse Experiences in Digital Meditation Training: 2 Randomized Controlled Trials (Jun 2026)
Source quote
In studies 1 and 2, 89.8% (79/88) and 90% (36/40) of participants who reported AExs, respectively, indicated that they were glad to have learned to meditate.
- 36.
Over 21.7% of meditators in Australia and 17.6% in New Zealand reported a meditation-related adverse effect in a 2023 national survey published in 2025.
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (Davies et al.), Prevalence and predictors of meditation use in Australia and New Zealand: results from a nationally representative survey (Dec 2025)
Source quote
Over 21.7% of Australian (~ 1.5 M) and 17.6% of New Zealand meditators (~ 0.2 M) experienced a meditation-related adverse effect.
- 37.
About 8% of participants had a negative effect from meditation in a 2020 review of 83 studies, a rate similar to that reported for psychological therapies, per NCCIH.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety (Jun 2022)
Source quote
The researchers concluded that about 8 percent of participants had a negative effect from practicing meditation, which is similar to the percentage reported for psychological therapies.
Chart
Participants with at least one study-related adverse event, MBSR vs escitalopram
Randomized trial of adults with anxiety disorders at three US academic medical centers, recruited 2018 to 2020.
- Escitalopram78.6%
- Mindfulness (MBSR)15.4%
Source: JAMA Psychiatry (Hoge et al.), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction vs Escitalopram for the Treatment of Adults With Anxiety Disorders: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Meditation and mental health benefits at work
- 38.
83% of large US firms (more than 200 workers) that offer health benefits offered at least one wellness program in 2025, such as smoking cessation, weight loss or behavioral coaching.
KFF, 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey (Oct 2025)
Source quote
Among large firms (more than 200 workers) offering health benefits in 2025, 53% offer workers the opportunity to complete a health risk assessment, 43% offer workers the opportunity to complete a biometric screening, and 83% offer workers one or more wellness programs, such as programs to help them stop smoking or lose weight, or lifestyle and behavioral coaching.
- 39.
76% of employees in Headspace's 2026 Workforce State of Mind survey said chronic work strain has hurt their sleep.
Headspace, 2026 Workforce State of Mind (May 2026)
Source quote
76% say it has negatively affected their sleep
- 40.
73% of employees in the 2026 Headspace survey said chronic strain has hurt their ability to focus.
Headspace, 2026 Workforce State of Mind (May 2026)
Source quote
73% say it has hurt their ability to focus
- 41.
Only 12% of organizations in the 2026 Headspace survey invest mainly in preventive mental health support.
Headspace, 2026 Workforce State of Mind (May 2026)
Source quote
Only 12% of organizations invest primarily in preventive support
- 42.
Only 22% of organizations in the 2026 Headspace survey track how much their mental health benefits are used.
Headspace, 2026 Workforce State of Mind (May 2026)
Source quote
Only 22% of organizations track mental health benefit utilization
- 43.
44% of employers in the 2026 Headspace survey believed they were giving staff resilience skills, but only 23% of employees agreed.
Headspace, 2026 Workforce State of Mind (May 2026)
Source quote
44% of employers believe they're equipping employees with resilience skills; O nly 23% of employees agree
- 44.
70% of employees in the 2026 Headspace survey said their organization adopted new AI technologies in the past year, the most common change they faced.
Headspace, 2026 Workforce State of Mind (May 2026)
Source quote
70% of employees say their organization adopted new AI technologies in the past year — making it the single most common form of organizational change workers experienced, and one of the fastest-growing sources of pressure.
- 45.
38% of organizations leaned primarily reactive in their approach to mental health support, according to Headspace's 2026 survey.
Headspace, 2026 Workforce State of Mind (May 2026)
Source quote
38% of organizations lean primarily reactive in their approach to mental health support
Chart
Employees reporting harm from chronic work strain, 2026
Headspace survey of employees and leaders, published 2026; vendor research with a limited sample.
- Sleep76%
- Ability to focus73%
- Productivity70%
Source: Headspace, 2026 Workforce State of Mind
Questions readers ask
- How many people meditate in the US?
- About 17.3% of US adults meditated in 2022, up from 7.5% in 2002, according to National Health Interview Survey data reported by NCCIH. A 2024 Scientific Reports analysis puts the number at about 60.53 million adults. No newer national estimate has been published.
- Do meditation apps actually work?
- They help modestly. A 2025 JAMA Network Open trial of 1,458 employees found a digital meditation program reduced perceived stress against a waiting list (Cohen d 0.85), and a 2025 npj Digital Medicine meta-analysis found digital mindfulness improved sleep (g = 0.38) at very low certainty. A 2019 World Psychiatry meta-analysis found app effects on depression shrank to g = 0.12 against placebo-style controls.
- How many people keep using meditation apps?
- Few. A JMIR study of real-world usage found meditation apps kept a median 4.7% of new users at day 30. In a 2023 survey of recent app users published in 2026, 25% reported more than 11 sessions a month.
- Is meditation as effective as medication for anxiety?
- In one major trial, yes. A 2022 JAMA Psychiatry study of 276 adults found an 8-week MBSR course was noninferior to escitalopram, and only 15.4% of the mindfulness group had a study-related side effect against 78.6% on the drug. That was a teacher-led course, not an app.
- Can meditation have side effects?
- Yes, for a minority of people. In two digital meditation trials published in JMIR Mental Health in 2026, 27.9% and 10.1% of participants reported an adverse experience and 3% to 6.7% reported functional impairment, though rates were similar among people who did not complete the meditations. NCCIH cites a 2020 review in which about 8% of participants had a negative effect.
How these figures were chosen
We selected figures that help someone decide whether to pay for a meditation app, course or workplace program: adoption, app engagement, trial evidence, safety and employer offerings. Usage figures come from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey as reported by NCCIH, NCHS and a 2024 Scientific Reports analysis, the latest US national data, and from a 2023 national survey in Australia and New Zealand. For research, the year shown is the publication year of the trial or meta-analysis; several 2025 and 2026 reviews rate their own evidence as low or very low certainty, and effect sizes are not directly comparable across studies with different populations, controls and scales. App retention data come from a JMIR study of 2017 and 2018 Android panel data, still the most detailed independent benchmark. Company figures from Headspace and Sword Health are self-reported, and Headspace's workforce survey is vendor research with a sample of a few hundred people. Every quote was copied from the publisher's page and re-checked by our source checker. Read the methodology.
Sources
- Annals of Behavioral Medicine (Zawadzki et al.). App-based mindfulness meditation reduces stress in novice meditators: a randomized controlled trial of headspace using ecological momentary assessment (Jan 2025).
- BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (Davies et al.). Prevalence and predictors of meditation use in Australia and New Zealand: results from a nationally representative survey (Dec 2025).
- Clinical Psychology Review (Xu et al.). The effectiveness of second-generation mindfulness interventions on anxiety and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Feb 2026).
- Headspace. 2026 Workforce State of Mind (May 2026).
- JAMA Internal Medicine (Goyal et al.). Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (Mar 2014).
- JAMA Network Open (Radin et al.). Digital Meditation to Target Employee Stress: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Jan 2025).
- JAMA Psychiatry (Hoge et al.). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction vs Escitalopram for the Treatment of Adults With Anxiety Disorders: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Nov 2022).
- JMIR Mental Health (Beloborodova et al.). Prevalence and Predictors of Self-Reported Adverse Experiences in Digital Meditation Training: 2 Randomized Controlled Trials (Jun 2026).
- Journal of Medical Internet Research (Adams et al.). Engagement With Meditation Apps: Cross-Sectional Survey of Use and Associations (Feb 2026).
- Journal of Medical Internet Research (Baumel et al.). Objective User Engagement With Mental Health Apps: Systematic Search and Panel-Based Usage Analysis (Sep 2019).
- KFF. 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey (Oct 2025).
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety (Jun 2022).
- National Center for Health Statistics (CDC). Yoga Among Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2022 (NCHS Data Brief No. 501) (Jun 2024).
- npj Digital Medicine (Lee et al.). Systematic review and meta-analysis of effects of standalone digital mindfulness-based interventions on sleep in adults (Dec 2025).
- npj Mental Health Research (Rajan et al.). Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on perceived stress among non-clinical adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Feb 2026).
- PLOS Medicine (Galante et al.). Mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in adults in nonclinical settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (Jan 2021).
- Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (Barnhofer et al.). Efficacy and Moderators of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Difficult-to-Treat Depression: A Systematic Review and Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis (Jun 2026).
- Scientific Reports (Davies et al.). Prevalence and 20-year trends in meditation, yoga, guided imagery and progressive relaxation use among US adults from 2002 to 2022 (Jul 2024).
- Stress and Health (Vainre et al.). Mindfulness-Based Programmes for Work Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials (Dec 2025).
- Sword Health. Sword to acquire Headspace, bringing AI Care to the world's most trusted mental health brand (Sep 2026).
- World Psychiatry (Linardon et al.). The efficacy of app-supported smartphone interventions for mental health problems: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Sep 2019).
How to cite
Link to this page or to a single figure. Name the original publisher where you can.
KeenVerdict. (2026, November 4). Meditation Statistics 2026. https://keenverdict.com/meditation-statistics
Questions or corrections: editorial@keenverdict.com. Next scheduled review: January 3, 2027.