Autism Statistics
Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 19, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • New research indicates that approximately 1 percent of the world's population, or over 75 million people, have autism spectrum disorder.
  • Autism spectrum disorder is a neuro-developmental impairment marked by social challenges, behavioral issues, and developmental delays.
  • Autistic individuals are far more receptive to sensory stimuli than the average non-autistic individual.
Reading time: 14 min

New research indicates that approximately 1 percent of the world’s population, or over 75 million people, have autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder is a neuro-developmental impairment marked by social challenges, behavioral issues, and developmental delays.

Autistic individuals are far more receptive to sensory stimuli than the average non-autistic individual.

Autism spectrum disorder encompasses all previously distinct autism-related diagnoses, like Asperger’s syndrome.

It has been demonstrated that autistic individuals interact far more efficiently with other autistic individuals than with non-autistic people.

Keep reading to learn more about the prevalence and statistics of children with autism.

High angle view of special kid with autism among another on white background

The following are some of the mind-boggling autism awareness facts.

  • Based on the CDC data, about 1 percent of the global population, or over 75,000,000 people, have autism spectrum disorder.
  • One in every 100 kids has an autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis, in 2022. This is expected to rise in 2023.
  • According to the CDC, Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been diagnosed in around 1 in 44 children in the US.
  • Since 2000, autism prevalence has climbed by 178 percent.
  • Autism is detected in roughly four times more boys than girls.
  • Autism prevalence in the United States increased to 1 in 100 in 2022 from 1 in 150 in 2000.
  • Florida has the highest prevalence of diagnosed autistic disorders.
  • Texas has the lowest percentage of diagnosed autism disorders.
  • Approximately 707,000 to 1,116,000 adolescents (70,700 to 111,600 per year) will reach maturity and transition out of school-based autism programs over the next years.
  • About 75 percent of autistic adults are unemployed, while 85 percent of autistic adults with a college degree are employed.
  • Approximately forty percent of autistic children are nonverbal, making nonverbal modes of communication vital.
  • About 78 percent of autistic children have an associated mental health disorder or get another mental health problem, with more than a quarter also having ADHD.
  • Around 80 percent of children with autism also have a deficit in their motor function, such as holding a pencil or walking.
  • Nearly fifty percent of 25-year-olds with autistic disorders will never have a paid job.
  • The expense of caring for autistic Americans was $268 billion in 2015 and is projected to reach $461 billion by 2025.
  • The majority of autism costs in the United States are associated with adult services. In particular, approximately $175 to $196 billion annually for adults and $61 to $66 billion annually for children.
  • On average, medical expenses for adolescents and children with autism were four to six times higher than for those who didn’t have autism.

Unfortunately, the prevalence rate of autism is on the rise, and it seems that autism statistics in 2023 will be even worse. These details in the figures and facts about autism mentioned above would be relatable and progressively increase in 2023 as projected.

Autism Prevalence Numbers

  • The current autism prevalence rate is  slightly over 1 in 100
  • Qatar has the highest rate of autism in the world.
  • France has the lowest rate of autism in the world.
  • Florida has the highest autism rate among the different states in the US.
  • Texas has the least autism rate of any state.

Autism Prevalence According to the CDC

The CDC monitors autism in the United States. They have released information on the evolving research on autism diagnosis and examined many study papers.

In addition to monitoring and tracking autism prevalence around the country, the CDC strives to improve the resources available to autistic individuals. When it relates to autism diagnosis, their work has enabled people from ethnic minorities to get better and equivalent care.

Since 2000, autism prevalence has climbed by 178 percent (source: WHO, 2023)

As per the CDC, approximately 1 in 100 children will be labeled with an autism spectrum disorder during their lifetime.

Based on data from the CDC, boys are nearly four times more likely to be afflicted with autism than females.

According to the CDC, around 17 percent of children aged 3 to 17 will be diagnosed with developmental disorders such as autism, ADHD, blindness, and cerebral palsy.

According to the CDC, autism occurs in all socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic groups.

Boys are four times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with autism.

The CDC has also thoroughly discredited allegations that immunizations raise the risk of autism in children.

Autism Rates By Year

In 2000, the CDC stated that approximately 6.7 per 1,000 children were diagnosed with autistic disorders, for a prevalence rate of approximately 1 in 150.

In 2004, 8 out of every 1,000 children were diagnosed with autism, for a rate of approximately 1 in 125.

In 206, around 1 in 110 children were diagnosed with autism; in 2008, that figure grew to 1 in 88 children.

Approximately 1 in 68 children was diagnosed with autism in 2010.

In 2018, approximately 1 in 44 children, or 23 per 1,000 children, had been diagnosed with a condition. This is about four times the rate in 2000.

As more is known about them, autism spectrum disorders are increasingly likely to be identified. In addition, a growing number of females have been diagnosed as clinical definition and diagnostic criteria catch up with scientific knowledge. (source: NIH/NIMH, 2024)

In the 1970s, the diagnostic criteria for autism were extremely stringent. In later decades, as diagnostic standards were loosened, the incidence of diagnoses skyrocketed.

Education and accessibility also contribute to the growth in diagnosis. In the past, many autistic individuals would “fly under the radar.” Today, however, they have access to the necessary help and information to manage their challenges.

A frequent misconception is that vaccinations increase the risk of autism in children. This myth not only has been refuted but the researcher who promoted it has been found to have gathered falsified data. His license was suspended for this reason.

It is pertinent to mention here that the autism prevalence in 2023 is expected to increase partly due to the expansion of the general population and partly due to the high clinical suspicion and greater awareness of autistic disorders in 2023.

In the 1960s and 1970s, experts believe that two to four children per 10,000 were diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

All through the 1980s and 1990s, diagnostic criteria for autism evolved, resulting in a substantially greater rate of diagnosis.

In 2018, approximately 230 out of each 10,000 children were diagnosed with autism.

The number of autism patients identified in the 2020s is between 50 and 100 times higher than in the 1970s.

Autism Prevalence By Gender Among 8-Year-Olds (2018)

  • Boys – 3.7 percent (36.5/1,000)
  • Girls – 0.9 percent 8.8 per 1,000
  • Overall – 2.3 % (23.0 per 1,000)

In the 1940s, autism was initially described as a condition. Not until the 1960s, however, that diagnostic criteria begin to be formalized. In the 1980s, a deeper understanding of autism led to a significant increase in autism diagnoses.

Historically, various disorders were diagnosed apart from autism. Asperger’s syndrome is one such example. This form of autism was considered “less severe” since it didn’t involve speech problems.

The most current version of the DSM, though, has combined all of these diagnoses under autism spectrum disorder. This may boost the rate of diagnosis since individuals who were previously labeled with Asperger’s are now diagnosed with autism.

Rates of Autism In The US (source: NHS, 2024)

Let’s have a look at the US autism statistics and autism statistics by state.

Maryland, Rhode Island, and Florida all have rates of over 4%, making them the states with the greatest prevalence of autism disorders.

In the majority of states, the prevalence of autism is anywhere between 2 percent and 3.9 percent.

The prevalence of autism diagnosis is less than 2 percent in ten states.

Texas has the lowest percentage of diagnosed autism at 1.54 percent, while Florida has the highest prevalence at 4.88 percent.

Autism rates vary throughout the United States. There are not many solid reasons for this. Places like Florida likely have testing and screening procedures and special education services that are more effective.

If you reside in a state with a lower prevalence of autism diagnosis, it does not mean that there are fewer autistic persons in your area.

It may simply indicate that fewer persons are diagnosed, either because they lack severe symptoms or rather because they lack access to testing services.

Autism Rates Worldwide: Autism Rates By Country

Autism diagnosis rates in the majority of countries range between 60 and 100 per 10,000 children.

France has the lowest confirmed diagnosed autism rate in the world, with only 1 in 144 children being affected. 

There are just 5 countries where the autism rate is greater than 100 per 10,000 children.

The majority of countries with the lowest autism rates are in Europe, whereas the majority of countries with the highest incidence of autism diagnoses are in West Asia. (source: APA, 2023)

Roughly between 60 and 100 children per 10,000 are typically diagnosed with autism on a global scale.

The average diagnosis rate across all countries is approximately 83.2 children per 10,000. In roughly 43 countries, the average rate of diagnosis is lower than average.

Only 5 countries around the world have an autism diagnostic rate that exceeds 100 children per 10,000 or a rate higher than 1%. The majority of them are located in North Africa and West Asia, regions that Americans commonly refer to as the Middle East.

Countries with the Most Autism Diagnosis

Qatar has the highest confirmed diagnosed autism rate in the world, with around 1 in 66 persons being affected.

Autism is diagnosed in approximately 151 per 10,000 individuals in Qatar, followed by 112 every 10,000 individuals in the UAE.

Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain all have rates greater than 100 per 10,000, with 107, 101, and 103 per 10,000, respectively.

Kuwait, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Afghanistan are the next five nations with the highest rates of autism diagnosis.

Countries with the Least Autism Rates

France has the lowest rate of autism diagnosis, with approximately 69 per 10,000 children being diagnosed.

In France, around 1 in 144 children are diagnosed with autism, followed by Portugal, where 1 in 142 children are affected.

In Norway, Germany, Iceland, and Italy, approximately 1 in every 139 children is diagnosed with autism. (source: CDC, 2022 (Developmental Disabilities))

Austria, Greece, Spain, and Belgium are the next four nations with the least rates of diagnosed autism.

Rates Of Autism By Gender

About four times as many boys as girls have been diagnosed with autism.

According to research, girls are underdiagnosed, thus the proportion of males to females with autism maybe 1 to 2.

In one research, the proportion of boys to girls decreased from 4.2 to 3.3 after researchers adjusted how they determined whether individuals had autism.

In 1995, a Danish study indicated that 8 boys for 1 girl were diagnosed with autism, and then within 15 years, the ratio reduced to 3 boys per 1 girl.

In the past, scientists assumed that autism in females was exceedingly uncommon. However, more recent research indicates that there may be one girl with autism for every two or three boys. The difficulty is in obtaining an accurate diagnosis.

Girls with autism are much more prone to exhibit “introverted” symptoms, which are frequently misunderstood as anxiety or depression. Due to this, girls are more likely to be diagnosed with autism during their preteen and teen years.

Even when underdiagnoses are included, it appears that boys are more likely than girls to be autistic.

Autism Prevalence By Race And Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity And The Prevalence Of Autism In Eight-Year-Olds

  • White – 21.2 percent (21.2 per 1,000)
  • Black – 2.2 percent (22.3 per 1,000)
  • Asian/Pacific Islander – 2.2 percent (22.2 per 1000)
  • Hispanic – 2.3 percent (22.5 per 1,000)
  • Overall – 2.3 percent (23.0 per 1,000)

According to the CDC, autism is widespread in all races and ethnic groups, but it is occasionally underdiagnosed in particular populations.

In 2014, white children had a prevalence ratio of approximately 1.1 compared to black children. (source: NIH/NLM, 2024 (MedlinePlus))

In 2014, white children had a prevalence ratio of approximately 1.2 compared to Hispanic or Latino children.

In 2006, the ratio of white children with autism to Latino or Hispanic children was 1.70, which was much higher than the rate in 2014.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asserts that the greater prevalence proportions of autism in white children in comparison with other ethnicities are not due to the increased susceptibility of white children to develop autism.

As accessibility to other ethnicities has increased, the rate of diagnoses has become much more uniform among populations.

There appears to be no evidence that white children are more prone than other children to acquire autism.

However, research indicates that Latino and black children are more likely to be labeled with discipline-requiring behavioral issues than with autism.

Prevalence Of Autism By Age

An estimated 2.2 percent of adults in the United States have an autistic spectrum disorder.

The prevalence numbers are often estimated based on children, with the majority of diagnoses given to children.

Autism screenings are advised for children between the ages of 18 and 24 months, as autism diagnoses around age 2 are pretty reliable.

The usual parent will discuss developmental issues with their kid’s primary care pediatrician when their child is approximately 2 years old.

Autism is typically identified in childhood. However, this is not always the case. Adults are frequently examined for autism when their symptoms are not severe enough to cause problems at school or home.

Some autistic individuals are diagnosed as early as 14 months of age. The CDC recommends that pediatricians evaluate children for autism at 18 and 24 months of age. Typically, a credible autism diagnosis may be made by the age of two in children. (source: NCBI, 2021 (Systematic Review))

The average age at diagnosis for talkative autistic individuals previously diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome is between 5 and 9 years old.

However, some individuals with verbal autism are diagnosed as young as 3 years old.

Girls are more likely than boys to get a delayed diagnosis.

Autism Among Adults

In 2014, the CDC estimated that approximately 1 percent of the global population has autism. They estimated that 2.2 percent of American people will have autism in 2020.

Over 5,4 million adult Americans are diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder.

Approximately 85 percent of college graduates with autism were unemployed in 2018.

75 percent of adults with autism in the United States are either fully unemployed or underemployed.

93 percent of adults with autism in the United States reported that the COVID-19 epidemic had a negative influence on their mental health.

Autism affects about 11 percent of students with disabilities in the United States.

For autistic people to thrive, early intervention, special education, and self-advocacy are the most critical tools.

About forty percent of autistic children do not speak; therefore, it is essential to develop nonverbal communication skills.

Many autistic individuals are diagnosed before the age of 5, and they get familial and educational support. (source: Lancet, 2021 (GBD))

Nearly four out of five children with autism suffer from mental health disorders, with ADHD being among the most prevalent.

Individuals with autism may also acquire anxiety disorders, such as OCD, or problems with mood control, such as bipolar illness.

Autism is a frequent symptom of genetic conditions such as Fragile X syndrome and Down syndrome.

Individuals with autism may also suffer from gastrointestinal difficulties, epilepsy, seizures, and difficulty sleeping.

Four out of five autistic children struggle with motor abilities, such as walking, balance, and writing.

About half of all adults with confirmed autism live with a family member.

Approximately 5 percent of adults with autism are married or have been married in the past, according to archival data.

Nine percent of autistic adults in Toronto were married, whereas 32 percent had a romantic partner, according to a survey. For comparison, approximately half of non-autistic individuals are married.

Researchers feel that romantic connections should be considered while planning the transition from early childhood to adulthood for autistic individuals.

Autism is the most prevalent disability represented in American public classrooms.

One poll revealed that approximately 35 percent of young individuals with autism have attended at least some college.

In the first 2 years following high school, approximately half of autistic young adults in the United States were neither employed nor enrolled in college.

FAQs

How Many People Have Autism In The World
Based on the CDC data, about 1 percent of the global population, or over 75,000,000 people, have autism spectrum disorder.
What Country Has The Highest Rate Of Autism
Qatar has the highest autism prevalence rate in the world.
Are There Any Countries With No Autism?
There is no country spared by Autism completely. France has the lowest autism prevalence rate in the world.

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