Autism touches millions of lives around the world, and our understanding grows stronger every day.
Whether you're a parent looking for answers, a teacher wanting to better support your students, or someone who cares about understanding the condition, knowledge helps paint a clearer picture of autism in today’s world.Remember: while statistics are helpful for grasping the bigger picture, every person with autism is unique. These numbers simply help us better understand autism as a whole and show where we can offer better support.
Let's start by looking at how many people have autism in the United States and around the world.
How Many People Are Living with Autism?
Over the past few decades, doctors and researchers have improved the identification of autism, leading to more accurate numbers.
- Around 1 in 36 children in the US are living with autism (Autism Speaks), a number that has dramatically risen over the years
- In 2000, the number was 6.7 in 1000 children(Statista)
- In 2006, the number was 1 in 59 children
- In 2008, the number was 1 in 54 children
- In 2010, the number was 1 in 44 children (CDC)
- Diagnoses in adults have also risen — adults aged 25-34 experienced a 450% increase in autism diagnoses (US News)
- Nearly 5.5 million adults in the US are living with autism (CDC)
- California is the state with the most autism diagnoses, with just over 700,000 (World Population Review)
- France is the country with the lowest number of autism diagnoses (World Population Review)
- Autism diagnoses have more than doubled since 2004 (National Library of Medicine)
- Worldwide, around 1%, or 75 million people, are living with autism (The Treetop)
- Around four times as many boys are diagnosed with autism than girls (PsychCentral)
- Girls can often mask symptoms of autism with advanced speech patterns when compared to boys (National Library of Medicine)
- Because of this, many girls are misdiagnosed or aren’t diagnosed at all (Child Mind Institute)
- Although some believe that vaccines cause autism, this has been proven to be a myth. (NIH)
When Do Children Usually Get Diagnosed?
Getting an autism diagnosis is an important step in helping children access the support they need.
While every child develops differently, researchers have gathered valuable information about when most children receive their diagnosis and what signs often lead to an evaluation.
- Children, on average, get diagnosed with autism at around five years old (Autism Speaks)
- 30% of parents reported seeing signs as early as one-year-old (National Library of Medicine)
- Diagnosing girls with autism typically takes longer than boys (Medical Xpress)
- Studies show that minority children are often diagnosed with autism later than white children in the US (NIH)
- 95% of parents notice developmental delays in children by the age of six (National Library of Medicine)
- The most commonly reported early sign of autism is delayed or unusual speech patterns (National Library of Medicine)
- Some lower-income countries have many more cases of undiagnosed autism (Golden Steps ABA)
Autism in Schools
School can present unique challenges as well as opportunities for children with autism. Many students with autism benefit from specialized programs and resources that help them succeed academically and socially.
- Many children living with autism require different types of education curricula — in 2018, just over 660,000 students living with autism received special education (National Library of Medicine)
- Around 1 in 81 children are eligible for autism special education (Springer)
- Only 40% of high school students living with autism go on to attend college (National Library of Medicine)
- Around 74% of students with autism attain their high school diploma (Abacus Therapies)
How Autism Affects People's Lives
Living with autism can shape many aspects of a person’s life, from how they communicate with others to their paths in school, work, and daily routines. For families, understanding autism means learning about these different challenges and triumphs.
- Around 40% of people living with autism are non-verbal (National Autism Association)
- Only 14% of adults living with autism are employed (The Treetop)
- One study showed that only 5% of adults living with autism were living completely independently (Yellow Bus)
- Early intervention (as early as two-and-a-half years old) is beneficial for later positive outcomes (Behavioral Innovations)
- The lifetime cost of care for a person living with ASD is around 2.4 million. (Penn Today)
- Over 60% of children living with autism experience bullying (Autism Speaks)
Autism and Health Care Statistics
People living with autism often experience unique health challenges that require specialized support.
From mental or behavioral health conditions to sensory sensitivities, managing health care can be complex for individuals with autism and their families.
- One survey suggests that 80% of adults living with autism have trouble seeing their general practitioner (National Library of Medicine)
- Teens living with autism visit the ER four times more often than their peers (Forbes)
- People living with autism, on average, live 15-20 years less than those without (Blue ABA)
- Diabetes is 57% more common in people living with autism (Healthline)
- Around 78% of people living with autism live with another mental health condition, and almost 50% are living with two or more mental health conditions (Autism Research Institute)
Social Relationships and Community Inclusion
Building connections can be challenging for many people living with autism, Yet social relationships and community involvement play a huge role in quality of life.
- One survey reported that 43% of 13-17-year-olds living with autism didn’t spend time with friends outside of school (Stephanie Bethany)
- 46.4% of teens in another study reported that they had no real friends at all (National LIbrary of Medicine)
- 80% of people living with autism rely on support from family members — further highlighting the need for more community support (Autism Speaks)
Help Your Loved Ones Living with Autism Thrive
Although statistics help people understand more about autism itself, it’s essential to remember: Children living with autism are so much more than statistics.
Help the children in your life who are living with autism break through social barriers to boost connection and communication.
Using skill-building therapies and other support systems, see how Sevita’s experts help children living with autism every step of the way.
Discover more about how you can support children living with autism:
