- About 1 in 31 U.S. children are identified as autistic by age 8.
- That's up from about 1 in 150 in 2000.
- The rise is mostly explained by better awareness, broader criteria and more screening.
- Boys are identified over 3 times more often, but girls are often missed.
How many children are autistic?
The CDC tracks autism in 8-year-olds across communities in the U.S. In its latest data, from 2022, about 1 in 31 children (3.2%) had been identified as autistic.1
In a classroom of 30, that's about one child. Your child is far from alone, and many schools and therapists have experience supporting autistic kids.
Why are more children diagnosed now?
In 2000, the same CDC network counted about 1 in 150 children.1 Several changes explain much of the rise:
- Broader criteria. Autism is now understood as a spectrum. In 2013, several separate diagnoses, like Asperger's, were combined into one.3
- Better awareness. Parents, pediatricians and teachers know more about the signs.
- More screening. Pediatricians are advised to screen every toddler for autism at 18 and 24 months.
- More services. When help is available, families and schools are more likely to seek a diagnosis.
- Better reach. More children from groups that were once overlooked are now being identified.
Researchers continue to study whether other factors also play a role. You can read what's known in What causes autism?
Is autism more common in boys?
It's identified over 3 times more often in boys than girls.1 But research suggests part of that gap is because girls are missed. When researchers screened whole populations, the ratio was closer to 3 to 1.2 See How does autism show up in girls?
| Figure | |
|---|---|
| Children identified by age 8 (2022 data) | About 1 in 31 (3.2%) |
| Children identified in 2000 | About 1 in 150 |
| Boys compared with girls | Over 3 times more often in boys |
What does this mean for my family?
Numbers can help you feel less alone, but they don't tell you about your child. What matters most is understanding your child's strengths and needs, and finding support that fits.
Where do I go from here?
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Start with What is autism? or What are the early signs of autism?
