Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) — known as Anankastic Personality Disorder in the ICD-11 — doesn't get talked about nearly as much as anxiety or depression. But a 2022 meta-analysis pooling data from 46 studies and more than 89,000 people worldwide found it's actually one of the more common personality patterns around, with an estimated global prevalence of about 6.5%.
That rate climbs considerably higher in psychiatric and clinical populations, and the researchers found the prevalence has stayed fairly stable across nearly three decades of research — this isn't a fad diagnosis or a recent trend, it's a consistent pattern found across countries and cultures.
Why does this matter? Because OCPD often hides in plain sight. The traits — perfectionism, rigid rule-following, difficulty delegating, an intense work ethic — are frequently seen as admirable or even desirable, especially in high-achieving environments. That makes it easy for people to go years without recognising that what looks like diligence has tipped into something that's costing them relationships, flexibility, or joy.
If this sounds familiar — either in yourself or someone close to you — you're far from alone. Given how common these traits are, there's a well-established need for effective support, and a psychologist can help you work out whether what you're experiencing fits this pattern, and what to do about it.