22 Antisocial Personality Disorder Statistics for 2025

Few mental health conditions are as closely tied to lifelong patterns of harm as antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). People with ASPD show a consistent disregard for rules, responsibilities, and the rights of others—behaviors that often begin in childhood and solidify by adulthood.

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), ASPD is linked to early conduct disorder and is defined by traits such as deceit, aggression, recklessness, and lack of remorse.

Diagnosis of ASPD requires at least three of the following traits:

Law-breaking: Repeated acts that could lead to arrest.
Deceitfulness: Habitual lying, use of aliases, or manipulation for gain.
Impulsivity: Poor planning and reckless decisions.
Aggressiveness or irritability: Frequent fights or assaults.
Recklessness: Disregard for personal or others’ safety.
Irresponsibility: Unstable work history or unpaid debts.
Lack of remorse: Indifference or rationalization after causing harm.

Additional criteria include being 18 or older, having conduct disorder before age 15, and ruling out schizophrenia or bipolar disorder as explanations for behavior. In cases where early conduct disorder isn’t documented, clinicians may use the term “adult antisocial behavior” to describe antisocial traits.

Because ASPD often emerges early in life and is associated with severe outcomes—including crime, substance use, and poor treatment of others—it remains a major focus in many continuing education courses. In this article, we’ll review 22 key antisocial personality disorder statistics for 2025, covering prevalence, comorbidities, and treatment challenges.

Antisocial Personality Disorder Statistics – Prevalence

1. Lifetime prevalence of ASPD in the U.S. is about 3.6%

Nearly 4% of Americans in the general population will meet criteria for an ASPD diagnosis at some point in their lives. Additionally, 1.1% will meet the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder and 12.3% for adult antisocial behavior.
Source: National Institute of Health (NIH).

2. About 1% to 3% of the global population meets criteria for antisocial personality disorder

Global prevalence of ASPD is significantly lower than in the United States, with regional variation showing lower rates in Europe and Asia.
Source: Nature.

3. In America, ASPD is 3 times more common among men than women

In the general U.S. population, up to 6% of men and 2% of women meet the diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality disorder.
Source: Montare Behavioral Health.

4. ASPD is most common between ages 24 and 44

Antisocial personality disorder often begins early, with about 80% of individuals showing antisocial traits by age 11, and some traits appearing as early as preschool. Prevalence peaks in young adulthood at 3.9% and declines to less than 1% in adults over 65, though symptoms and their effects can persist into later life.

Early onset: ~80% show traits by age 11
Peak prevalence: 3.9% in young adults (ages 24–44)
Older adults: 0.78% in those over 65, likely underestimated
Sources: American Addiction Centers, The Recovery Village, Taylor & Francis Online.

Antisocial Personality Disorder Statistics – Incarceration, Homelessness, and Criminal Behavior

5. Prisoners are 10 times more likely to have ASPD than the general population

A review of prisons in 12 countries revealed ASPD was 10 times more common among incarcerated individuals, with nearly half of male prisoners (47%) and 21% of female prisoners meeting criteria for diagnosis.

Another study of UK prisons revealed more than half of men (63% of remand prisoners and 49% of sentenced prisoners) and nearly one-third of women (31%) met diagnostic criteria.
Sources: Cochrane Library, ResearchGate.

6. About 86% of violent gang members have ASPD

One study found that nearly nine in 10 violent gang members met the criteria for antisocial personality disorder, which is closely linked with psychopathy. Traits like impulsiveness, aggression, and lack of empathy fuel this connection.

While not all psychopaths are violent, the overlap between antisocial traits and aggressive behavior makes psychopathy a major risk factor for crime.
Source: BioMed Central.

7. About 32% of homeless youth in San Francisco and 18% in Chicago met criteria for ASPD

Rates for mood disorder and anxiety disorder were even higher, at about two-thirds and one-third, respectively. Substance use affected 84% of San Francisco youth and 48% of Chicago youth. Overall, 80% of homeless youth met criteria for at least one psychiatric diagnosis.
Source: NIH.

8. About 14% to 21% of adults who abuse their children also meet criteria for ASPD

Up to approximately one in five adults who report abusing their children have antisocial personality disorder.
Source: StoryMD.

9. People with ASPD cost society 10 times more in public resources than peers without the disorder

This burden stems from higher rates of property damage, lost employment, health care use, police involvement, court proceedings, and incarceration.
Source: Cochrane Library.

Antisocial Personality Disorder Statistics – Comorbidity

10. Up to 85% of people with ASPD also have a substance use disorder (SUD)

Looking at it the other way around, between 14% and 35% of people with substance use disorders also meet the criteria for ASPD.

For comparison, in the U.S. general population, the lifetime prevalence rate for alcohol use disorder is 13.5%, and for other drug use disorders, it’s 6.1%.

Comorbidity with alcohol and drug disorders is widespread and significant: alcohol use disorders affect about 30.3% of adults, while drug use disorders affect 10.3%.
Sources: ResearchGate, American Addiction Centers, NIH.

11. About 77% of individuals with ASPD will develop alcohol use disorder at some point in their lives

This rate is 3.8 times higher than in the general population, with a lifetime prevalence of nearly eight in 10. For comparison, about 52% of individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and 39% of individuals with other personality disorders will also be diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.

The overlap is especially strong among men, as 70% of men with severe alcohol use disorder also have ASPD, particularly in high-risk groups such as incarcerated populations and those in substance use treatment programs.
Sources: NIH, American Addiction Centers.

12. People with ASPD are nearly 12 times more likely to develop drug use disorders than the general population

People diagnosed with ASPD have a 1,080% higher risk of developing drug problems than the general population. This risk is even stronger among women than men.

In some inpatient studies, individuals with ASPD showed extremely high rates of polysubstance use: 62% abused multiple substances, with more than half using cannabis and nearly one in three using amphetamines.
Sources: NIH, NIH.

13. ASPD prevalence among people with substance use disorders ranges from 7% to 40%, with notable gender differences

For men with ASPD, comorbidity rates include:

Alcohol use disorder: 50%
Cannabis use disorder: 29.7%
Cocaine use disorder: 22%

Among women with ASPD, comorbidity rates are slightly lower for substance use but higher for mood-related conditions:

Alcohol use disorder: 43.6%
Cannabis use disorder: 21.8%
Cocaine use disorder: 7.3%

Women with ASPD are also more likely than men to experience mood, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders alongside substance misuse.

These statistics reflect correlation, not causation: having one disorder increases the likelihood of the other, but does not guarantee it.
Source: NIH.

14. About 25% of people who have either ASPD or narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) meet the criteria for both

Narcissistic personality disorder statistics reveal the significant overlap, and both conditions share traits like grandiosity, lack of empathy, and manipulativeness.
Source: ResearchGate.

15. Nearly 8 in 10 ‘high risk’ women had both ASPD and BPD

Borderline personality disorder statistics reveal that in forensic psychiatric settings, ASPD and BPD often overlap. Studies show that among women classified as “dangerous and severely personality disordered,” nearly 80% were diagnosed with both conditions—a much higher rate than seen in general or clinical populations.
Source: BioMed Central.

Antisocial Personality Disorder Statistics – Causes, Risk Factors, and Complications

16. Genetics account for about 50% of ASPD risk

Research shows that roughly half of ASPD risk is inherited. A large twin study found that all seven ASPD criteria stem from a single underlying factor that is about 51% heritable.

Meanwhile, a genome-wide study of Finnish offenders identified two specific gene regions tied to ASPD, including one that doubled the odds of diagnosis. These genes are active in the frontal cortex—the part of the brain linked to decision-making and impulse control—where people with ASPD often show reduced gray matter. Together, these findings highlight both the heritability of ASPD and the biological pathways that may drive it.
Sources: NIH, NIH.

17. About 1 in 5 people with ASPD have a close relative with the disorder

Research shows that about 20% of people with ASPD also have a first-degree relative with the condition, highlighting both genetic and environmental roots. Combined with childhood abuse or neglect, these traits can fuel aggression, theft, and manipulation—behaviors that spread harm across families and communities, creating cycles that persist across generations.
Source: BetterHelp.

18. About half of youth diagnosed with conduct disorder will develop ASPD

A history of conduct disorder is required for a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder in youth, and approximately 50% of children and teenagers with the condition will go on to develop ASPD.
Source: Cochrane Library.

19. Adults with physical trauma are 5 times more likely to develop ASPD

Antisocial personality disorder statistics show experiencing physical trauma strongly predicts development of the condition. Adults with a history of physical trauma were more than four times more likely to be diagnosed, while those who experienced crime-related trauma were nearly three times more likely.

Sexual trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and gender differences showed no significant link.

Physical trauma: 404% higher likelihood of ASPD
Crime-related trauma: 192% higher likelihood
Sexual trauma: 120% higher likelihood, but not statistically significant
PTSD severity: no meaningful association
Gender: 51–156% higher likelihood for men, but not statistically significantSource: NIH.

Antisocial Personality Disorder Statistics – Prognosis

20. Men under age 40 with ASPD are 33 times more likely to die than peers without the condition

The standardized mortality rate reveals men in this age group are at 33 times higher risk of death than men of the same age who don’t have ASPD. This is attributed to increased rates of suicide, drug use, and aggressive behavior. ASPD is also a predictor of all-cause mortality.
Source: Cochrane Library.

21. Earlier onset of ASPD is linked to poorer prognosis

While earlier appearance of ASPD symptoms is an indicator of poorer prognosis, employment, marriage, early incarceration, and level of socialization are moderating factors and indicate a more positive prognosis.
Source: The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.

22. People with ASPD have a median survival of 71 years, versus 84.6 years without ASPD

Antisocial personality disorder statistics show a link to a much higher risk of death from several causes:

All causes combined: about 4.5 times higher risk
Suicide: nearly 3 times higher risk
Cancer: about 4 times higher risk
Chronic lower respiratory disease: about 6 times higher risk
HIV/AIDS: about 8 times higher risk

ASPD is not linked to higher death rates from accidents or heart disease.
Source: NIH.

What These Antisocial Personality Disorder Statistics Reveal

Epidemiology: ASPD affects roughly 3-4% of the U.S. population, with higher prevalence in men and in early adulthood, reflecting a pervasive pattern that often begins in early childhood.
Development of antisocial personality disorder: Early life conduct disorder, family history, and environmental influences like childhood trauma significantly increase risk.
Personality traits and symptoms of ASPD: Key traits include deceitfulness, aggression, impulsivity, recklessness, and lack of remorse, which contribute to maladaptive behaviors and impaired interpersonal relationships.
Comorbid conditions and substance abuse: Up to 85% of individuals with ASPD experience substance use disorders, including alcohol and drug dependence, often alongside other mental health disorders.
Environmental factors: Trauma, neglect, and adverse experiences in early life play a critical role, alongside genetic predisposition, in shaping the disorder.
Mental illness and psychiatric disorders: ASPD frequently co-occurs with other personality disorders and psychiatric conditions, highlighting the complexity of mental health disorders and substance dependence.
Consequences and prognosis: Individuals with ASPD face increased risk for incarceration, premature death, and societal costs, underscoring the need for early intervention and support.

How eCare Behavioral Health Institute Can Help

At eCare Behavioral Health Institute, we understand the challenges of treating antisocial personality disorder and other complex mental health conditions.

Our online continuing education courses provide mental health professionals with practical tools to handle difficult cases and improve clinical practice, including:

Courses feature evidence-based interventions to help clinicians assess and treat clients with ASPD.

With on-demand recorded webinars, social workers, counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists can stay current on emerging theories and treatment strategies. Explore our course catalog to expand your expertise and enhance outcomes for clients with ASPD and other personality disorders.

Antisocial Personality Disorder Statistics – FAQs

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about antisocial personality disorder statistics.

What percentage of the world has ASPD?

About 1% to 3% of the global population meets criteria for ASPD.

Is ASPD serious?

Yes, it’s linked to persistent maladaptive behaviors, substance abuse, incarceration, and increased mortality.

What is the life expectancy of someone with ASPD?

Median survival is around 71 years, compared with 84.6 years for people without ASPD.

Can people with ASPD live a normal life?

Some can, especially with early intervention and strong social support, but many experience impaired interpersonal relationships and comorbid mental health disorders.

At what age does ASPD peak?

Prevalence peaks in early adulthood, roughly between ages 24 and 44.

Is ASPD genetic?

Yes, about 50% of ASPD risk is inherited, and family history increases susceptibility.

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