Autism Facts and Statistics

Some Autism Spectrum Disorder facts and statistics:

• 1 in 54 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder according to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.
• ASD is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
• ASD is about 4.5 times more common among boys than among girls.
• Studies in Asia, Europe, and North America have identified individuals with ASD with an average prevalence of between 1% and 2%.
• Autism greatly varies from person to person (no two people with autism are alike)
• The rate of autism has steadily grown over the last twenty years
• Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disorder, yet most underfunded
• Parents who have a child with ASD have a 2%–18% chance of having a second child who is also affected (CDC 2015).
• It is estimated to cost at least $17,000 $21,000 more per year to care for a child with ASD compared to a child without ASD. Costs include health care, education, ASD-related therapy, family-coordinated services, and caregiver time (CDC 2015). Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention.