Autism prevalence rises to 1 in 31 children in the U.S.
April 15, 2025Today, the CDC released new data showing that 1 in 31 children in the United States are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—an increase from the previous estimate of 1 in 36. The findings come from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, which tracks autism diagnoses among children ages 4 and 8 across 16 sites nationwide.
Increased autism awareness, better screening and broader diagnostic criteria have helped more children—especially those in historically underserved communities—get diagnosed earlier.
2025 autism prevalence in the U.S.
The updated prevalence report reflects both progress and persistent disparities in early identification and access to services. Increased autism awareness, better screening and broader diagnostic criteria have helped more children—especially those in historically underserved communities—get diagnosed earlier. But the data also points to critical gaps that must be addressed. Key findings include:
Prevalence
- 1 in 31 (or 3.2%) 8-year-old children were diagnosed with autism in 2022, up from 1 in 36 (2.7%) in 2020.
- Among 4-year-old children, autism prevalence was 1 in 34 (or 2.9%), with sharp increases in diagnosis rates around 36 months—possibly reflecting increased use of telehealth during the pandemic.
- Boys were 3.4 times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with autism.
- Prevalence was lowest among white children (2.7%) and highest among American Indian or Alaska Native children (3.8%), Asian or Pacific Islander children (3.8%) and Black children (3.7%). Hispanic (3.3%) and multiracial (3.2%) children also had higher rates of diagnosis than white children. This continues a trend first seen in 2020 and points to progress in autism identification in historically underserved communities.
- In 5 surveillance sites, autism prevalence was higher in areas with lower median household income or greater social vulnerability.
Co-occurring conditions
- Over a third (39.6%) of children with autism also had co-occurring intellectual disability. This number was even higher among Black children (52.8%) and American Indian or Alaska Native children (50%), suggesting many aren’t identified until more significant support needs arise.
Diagnosis
- Schools remain a critical point of identification: 67.3% of children with autism were identified through special education eligibility. However, nearly 18% were identified based on this criterion alone, with no documented medical diagnosis, highlighting potential gaps in evaluation and putting them at risk of losing services after exiting the school system.
- Median age of diagnosis was 47 months (or about 4 years), and about half of children with autism were evaluated by age 3.
- Children born in 2018 were more likely to be identified with autism by age 4 than those born in 2014—an encouraging sign that efforts to promote developmental screening and early diagnosis are making a difference.
While these findings point to progress in early identification and access to diagnosis, they also highlight the persistent inequities in when and how children are diagnosed—and the need for systems that can keep up with the growing population of autistic children and adults.
The steady increase in autism prevalence calls for deeper, sustained investment in autism research, not only to understand its causes, but also to support the growing number of people diagnosed today.
We must ensure that policies and budgets evolve to reflect this new reality. That means expanding access to early intervention, strengthening educational and healthcare systems, and providing supports that span a lifetime.
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