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Autism statistics 2025

One in 54 children has autism in the U.S. Autism statistics have increased, but is autism really an epidemic?
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By | Updated on Feb. 4, 2025 Medically reviewed by Marissa Walsh, Pharm.D., BCPS-AQ ID
Map of America with charts and graphs: Autism statistics
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Children with impaired social skills, such as those who find it difficult to hold a conversation, make eye contact, or empathize with others, might fit somewhere on the autism spectrum. They may have compulsive behavior or repetitive movements. Although they may be captivated by a handful of things, they could be behind in their language or learning skills. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 36 children in the United States, and symptoms look a little different from person to person. There isn’t a cure for autism, and it’s a lifelong condition. Still, an early diagnosis can improve the quality of life of individuals with autism as well as their careers and relationships.

What is autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. The causes of autism are believed to be due to both genetic factors and environmental factors, although the exact causes of autism remain unknown. Those with autism find social interaction and communication difficult and have repetitive behaviors and focused interests. Autism is also a spectrum disorder, meaning the severity and range of symptoms are different from person to person.

Below are a few diagnostic criteria of autism, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V.

  • No babbling or pointing by age 1
  • No single words by age 16 months or two-word phrases by age 2
  • Impaired ability to make friends with peers
  • Impaired ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others
  • Repetitive or unusual use of language
  • Abnormally intense or focused interest
  • Preoccupation with objects or subjects
  • Inflexible adherence to specific routines or rituals

“ASD can be thought of as something that impacts language and theory of mind,” says Merriam Saunders, LMFT, a psychotherapist based in California. “For some, the language impact means they are non-vocal or have limited language use. These are typically the [most severe] cases. Theory of mind is a fancy term for one’s ability to understand that what is in your head is not necessarily in your head, too. It is sometimes because of this difficulty that people with ASD have difficulty understanding [that] someone else might not want to talk about or hear at length about the thing they are most passionate about.”

Saunders also explains that other symptoms, such as sensory issues (difficulty with sounds, taste, touch, and light), can range from severe to mild. 

How common is autism?

  • Among 8-year-old children, 1 in 36 U.S. children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)
  • Autism was four times more prevalent among boys than among girls as of 2020 in the U.S. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)
  • Overall, ASD diagnosis rates have increased by approximately 175% from 2011 to 2022 (JAMA Network Open, 2024)

Autism statistics by age

Today, autism diagnoses usually happen in early childhood, which may be why autism rates in children are higher than those in adults. However, because the definition of autism spectrum disorder has drastically evolved based on a greater understanding of the condition, many teens and adults could be living with undiagnosed ASD.

  • According to national surveys, of those children with autism, 49% were evaluated by age 3. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)
  • Children with a clinical diagnosis of autism had a median age of diagnosis of 4 years and 1 month. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)
  • One in 45 adults have a diagnosis of autism (Journal of Autism and Development Disorders, 2022)

Autism statistics by sex 

  • The estimated prevalence of ASD is higher in males than females, with the ratio of diagnosis about 4:1 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)
  • A higher proportion of males with ASD have average or above-average IQ in comparison to females with ASD (Journal of Autism and Development Disorders, 2013). 
  • Females are known to engage in disguising their autistic symptoms more than males, known as “camouflaging,” suggesting that it may simply be more challenging to diagnose females than males (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2017)

Autism statistics by race and ethnicity

  • Autism prevalence in children is higher among Black (2.9%), Hispanic (3.2%), and Asian or Pacific Islander (3.3%) children than white (2.4%) children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023) 
  • Minority groups are diagnosed with autism later and less often (Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 2021)
  • The average age of diagnosis of Black children with ASD was over 5 years of age, and 3 years after parents first raised concerns regarding child development, which differs from the average age of diagnosis occurring in 4-year-old children overall (Pediatrics, 2020)

Autism statistics by socioeconomic status

Reasons for differences in age at diagnosis with autism are numerous but include socioeconomic factors.

  • Studies have reported a positive association between lower socioeconomic status and prevalence rates of autism (PLoS One, 2010)
  • Families with parental roles with higher education suggest earlier ASD detection, which may be due to better access to healthcare services, financial resources, and education resources like early intervention. Disparities may also have more to do with the underrepresentation of lower socioeconomic classes (Journal of Autism and Development Disorders, 2013)

Cognitive functioning among children with autism

Autism is not a learning disability, but it can affect cognitive function. Some children on the autism spectrum have delays in speech or learning, while others do not. Because it is a spectrum disorder, these delays can range from mild to severe.

  • One-third of children with autism were classified as having an intellectual disability (IQ equal to or less than 70). 
  • More girls than boys were identified as having an intellectual disability with autism (42% versus 37%).
  • Twenty-four percent of children with autism had an IQ in the borderline range (IQ 71-85).
  • Black (21%) and Hispanic children (35%) were more likely to have an intellectual disability with autism than white children (32%), who had the lowest rate. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)

Autism and co-occurring conditions

There is no cure or medication for autism spectrum disorder. Behavioral therapy is the most effective autism treatment. However, the vast majority (95%) of autistic children have at least one co-occurring condition, and 78% have at least one mental health condition, which is often treatable (Autism Research Institute, 2021)

  • Approximately 80% of individuals with autism suffer from a sleep disorder (World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, 2021)
  • Gastrointestinal conditions, like chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea, gastroesophageal reflux and/or disease, and others, are observed in up to 84% of children with autism. (World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, 2021)
  • Five percent of children with autism and 12% of adults with autism on Medicaid have a co-occurring seizure disorder (National Autism Data Center, Drexel Autism Institute, 2024)
  • Thirty-five percent of children with autism and 21% of adults with autism suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Medicaid claims (National Autism Data Center, Drexel Autism Institute, 2024)

 The cost of autism

  • Autism costs $60,000 per year on average through childhood due to special education services like speech therapy, healthcare costs, and lost wages among parents. (My Team ABA, 2024)
  • Costs increase in people with autism and intellectual disability, comorbidities, and level of disability. (My Team ABA, 2024)
  • Costs for a person with autism is $1.4 million across the life span; lifetime cost estimates increase to $2.4 million in those with intellectual disabilities (My Team ABA, 2024)
  • The cost of caring for people with autism is predicted to reach $461 billion by 2025 in the U.S. (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2015)

Is autism an epidemic?

Before discussing whether these numbers suggest an epidemic, it’s necessary to understand why autism statistics have increased. An epidemic is a spike in the rate of new cases. However, it’s unclear whether the prevalence of autism has really increased or if it’s just an increase in diagnoses due to greater access to early identification.

Chris Abildgaard, LPC, a writer for Autism Parenting Magazine, explains that there is an increase in identified cases of autism due to, “expanding the definition from autism to autism spectrum disorder (ASD); increasing knowledge of the disorder by professionals, which leads to an increase in better and earlier diagnoses; more consistency by CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network in the method used to identify cases; (and) an actual increase in the rate of children being born with the disorder.”

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