25 Mindfulness Facts & Statistics Exploring Practice and Benefits

Thanks to industrialization and technology, our world today is faster and noisier than it used to be. It is easy to lose our sense of awareness, creativity, and mental well-being. One way to find a balance in our busy and distracting world is by practicing mindfulness. 

As the mindfulness facts below show and research have revealed, mindfulness has numerous positive impacts on mental well-being, chronic issues, and physical health.

In this article, you will find 26 facts about mindfulness and meditation.

25 Facts About Mindfulness and Meditation

Facts about how many people practice mindfulness

#1 - In the US, adult use of meditation tripled in 2017; it went from 4.1% in 2012 to 14.2% in 2017¹

Mindfulness is a state of awareness that comes from purposefully paying attention to your thoughts in the present moment in a non-judgmental way. People often associate mindfulness with meditation. The practice of meditation is an ancient mind-body technique that has been used to improve psychological well-being. 

Mindfulness is not about suppressing positive or negative thoughts; it helps us free ourselves from our habitual thought patterns. It is important to note that the gains of mindfulness practice appear over time and not immediately after the first session.

#2 - 40% of Americans meditate weekly, 8% meditate once or twice a month, and 4% do it several times a year²

#3 - 45% of Americans rarely meditate or do not practice meditation at all²

Although the history of mindful meditation is associated with Eastern spirituality in popular culture, it has crossed religious boundaries. According to a 2018 report by Pew Research Center, nearly all Americans who belong to a religious group meditate. 26% of non-religious Americans meditate weekly or more often. They averaged the meditation frequency of both sections to at least once a week.

#4 - In 2018, 8 million adults in Britain had learned to practice mindfulness, while around 12 million had never heard of mindfulness³

Mindfulness training requires learning the techniques used to bring the mind and body to a mindful state. These techniques include body scanning, mindfulness yoga, mindful eating, mindful listening, breathing, and walking meditation. Learning to use these techniques in the right way will reduce mind wandering and help us focus on our thoughts and actions in the present moment. 

#5 - Young and middle-aged adults in Britain had higher levels of engagement with mindfulness practices³

#6 - In 2017, only 11.8% of men used meditation, while 16.3% of women did¹

#7 - In this UK-based study, the rate of women who had learned to practice mindfulness was 2% higher than men³

Trial and uptake of mindfulness

#8 - 43% of people in Britain stopped practicing mindfulness right after learning, 32% practiced from time to time, while 25% practiced regularly³

In most situations, practicing mindfulness meditation requires a quiet environment that is devoid of distraction. Such an environment is a luxury for most adults, even for a short period. The distractions of work and family may prevent many people from taking time out to practice mindfulness.

Statistics show that young unmarried adults practice mindfulness more often than married people. Also, more than one report showed that women were more involved in mindfulness practice than men.

Related: Have a browse of these mindfulness quotes to learn from those who've taken mindfulness and spiritual practice to heart and benefit every day. Or grab a book on mindfulness to explore more deeply.

Where do people learn mindfulness?

#9 - A 2018 study showed that mobile apps were the most used pathway to practicing mindfulness in Britain, followed by books and attending a course³

In 2018, 15% of the adult population of Britain had learned mindfulness practice via an app, a book, or attending a program.

Technology has infused almost every aspect of life, and wellness is no exception. There are many ways to access mindfulness programs, but an app is ideal for most young people. This may be due to busy schedules and other commitments.

Using apps means they don't have to book a trip to a mindfulness retreat, and they can pace their activities according to personal convenience. This also means they can practice anywhere and anytime. The downside of mobile phone apps as a tool for practicing mindfulness is that other apps may cause distractions frequently.

#10 - The least used pathways to practicing mindfulness in Britain were visiting a mindfulness website and watching a video or DVD³

#11 - British politicians in the UK parliament have been taught mindfulness practice³

Mindfulness is considered a safe practice for anyone. You don't need to have special skills or subscribe to some religious beliefs to be mindful. Anyone with an open mind to the practice can enjoy mindfulness's mental and health benefits. 

Mindfulness benefits facts

#12 - Research has shown that practicing mindfulness thickens areas of the brain that control ‘executive function’ such as the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala⁴

Despite difficulties, mindfulness research has attempted to provide valid proof of mindfulness meditation's health benefits concerning mental health and general well-being. One of the hard pieces of evidence is the thickening or strengthening of the grey matter in the prefrontal cortex, insula, hippocampus, precuneus, and amygdala. 

The prefrontal cortex is the area of the brain in charge of self-regulation, attention, and planning. The insula and precuneus are responsible for self-awareness and emotional regulation. The hippocampus takes care of memory functions, and the amygdala is associated with feelings of fear, anxiety, depression, and stress. 

#13 - A study showed decreased anxiety, depression, and negativity after an 8-week mindfulness meditation training⁵

To test how meditative practices affect people without prior experience, researchers conducted an experimental study on non-meditators aged 18-45. The control group listened to a 13-minute podcast daily, while the experimental group participated in a 13-minute guided meditation daily.

After eight weeks, the experimental group showed mental health benefits, including decreased negative mood and anxiety scores.

The group also showed enhanced working memory, recognition memory, and attention. The study established that brief daily meditation could have similar effects to more prolonged and intense meditation experiences. 

Mindfulness-Based Treatments

#14 - A comparative study shows that mindfulness treatments (MBSR and MBCT) outperform active control conditions in treating clinical disorders and symptoms⁶

Mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy are forms of mindfulness-based interventions that are growing in acceptance.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends MBCT. It combines mindfulness techniques with some elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy to break negative thought patterns in the mind that characterize recurrent depression. MBSR addresses chronic stress and works for people with or without mental health disorders.

MBIs are more effective in treating patients compared to active control conditions like health education, supportive psychotherapy, and relaxation training. It also surpasses other non-evidence-based treatments. Evidence shows that the performance of MBIs for anxiety is on par with standard Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

#15 - A recent meta-analysis of 15 Randomised Controlled Trials found that technology-delivered MBIs significantly impacted depression, anxiety, stress, and mental well-being compared to control or waitlist conditions⁶

#16 - The reductive effects of Meditation programs on symptoms of patients with anxiety disorders can last for up to 3 years after initial intervention⁵

Mindfulness practice can cause changes in brain structure and activities of the mind. Experts consider such changes to be more permanent than behavioral changes. Hence the benefits of mindfulness are thought to be lasting.

Meditation can reduce panic, anxiety, and depression symptoms in patients, with the effects lasting for up to 3 years after the initial meditation intervention. However, the benefits of being in the present moment do not suggest that meditation be done only once every three years. It simply establishes that the benefits of meditation and mindfulness last long after the practice period. 

#17 - A study by Harvard scientists recorded a change in 172 genes regulating inflammation, glucose metabolism, and circadian rhythms linked to a meaningful decrease in participants’ blood pressure after about eight weeks of meditation⁷

Many studies have shown that meditation can help control or treat high blood pressure, chronic pain, and some mental disorders, including bipolar disorder. Research also suggests that meditation may help reduce insomnia, anxiety, and irritable bowel syndrome.

#18 - Research shows a significant impact of mindfulness on substance misuse⁵

Findings have been made that reveal the small and large impacts of mindfulness treatments in combating substance abuse. Mindfulness treatments help to reduce the severity and frequency of substance misuse. It also helps curb the craving for psychoactive substances and reduces the relapse rate.

Facts related to students, studying, and performance.

#19 - Some research suggests that investing only 6% of the school day in mindfulness practice is associated with a 16% increase in mental health and academic performance⁴

According to WHO projections, depression will become one of the top health problems globally. About 1 in every 7 children in primary school and 1 in 4 children in secondary school have mental health issues or problems. Studies show that 75% of mental disorders emerge during adolescence and early adulthood.

Mental health issues coupled with the demands of education and career can make teaching and learning stressful. Practicing mindfulness in schools is one way for students and teachers to cope with mental stress. Researchers have shown that mindfulness can help school-aged persons develop skills to handle their emotions best and help them get the best out of the school experience.

#20 - A meta-analysis of over 70 studies showed that school-aged young people who practiced mindfulness exhibited better emotional and behavior regulation than those who did not practice ⁴

#21 - The analysis also showed that students who practiced mindfulness had better social skills than 64% of their non-mindful peers⁴

#22 - According to the research, students who practiced mindfulness had lower depression and anxiety scores than their peers who did not practice mindfulness⁴

#23 - The analysis suggests that students who practiced mindfulness showed better academic performance than 66% of their non-mindful peers⁴

Mindfulness sharpens an individual's ability to pay attention. This improves retention capacity and reduces distractions. It strengthens working memory, reasoning, and cognitive flexibility.

It also enhances emotional stability by reducing behavioral issues, emotional reactivity, anxiety, and depression. These things help young people do better in school because they have eliminated most obstacles to learning. 

Students who include mindfulness-meditation practice in their daily routine will have better social, problem solving and academic skills than most who don't.

Facts about the economic impacts of mindfulness

#24 - The global market for mindfulness meditation apps was valued at USD 153.6 million⁸

Increasing stress levels and scientific findings will lead more people to turn to mindfulness. This presents an opportunity for mindfulness to boost the economy. In May 2017, the Committee For Children (CFC) launched Mind Yeti, a mindfulness app for children aged 5-12. In 2019, the organization announced its intention to create a social-emotional learning program for the environment outside the classroom. 

Apps for mindfulness and meditation practice generated over 150 million dollars in 2019. Experts predict that the mindfulness app market will be worth 341.9 million dollars by 2029.

The rising popularity of mindfulness has undoubtedly contributed to the wellness economy. The wellness economy experienced a 12.8% growth between 2015 to 2017. Current data puts the wellness industry at 5.3% of global economic output.

#25 - The global wellness industry grew from a 2015 value of $3.7 trillion to a $4.2 trillion market in 2017⁹