The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its latest data on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), revealing that 1 in 31 children in the United States is now diagnosed with autism—a noticeable increase from the previous estimate of 1 in 36. This new figure, based on 2022 data, reflects a growing trend in autism identification and offers both encouraging signs of progress and critical reminders of ongoing disparities in diagnosis and care.
The findings come from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, a nationwide surveillance program that tracks ASD prevalence among 4- and 8-year-old children at 16 sites across the country. These sites are located in diverse communities and provide a detailed look at how autism is diagnosed and how trends shift over time and across different demographic groups.
Rising Prevalence and What It Means
The latest report shows that 3.2% of 8-year-old children were identified as having autism in 2022—translating to about 1 in every 31 children. This is a significant increase from the 2.7% (or 1 in 36) prevalence rate reported in 2020. Among 4-year-olds, the prevalence was nearly as high, with 2.9% (or 1 in 34) receiving an autism diagnosis.
The increase in prevalence is not necessarily cause for alarm. Instead, it may reflect progress in early detection and broader public awareness. Over the last decade, experts have refined diagnostic tools, increased the accessibility of developmental screenings, and adopted more inclusive criteria that better recognize the diversity of autism presentations. These changes have been particularly impactful in communities that previously faced barriers to diagnosis due to socioeconomic, cultural, or systemic factors.
The report also highlighted a notable rise in diagnoses around the 36-month mark, which may be linked to the expanded use of telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. As healthcare systems adapted to remote care, more families were able to access developmental evaluations and screenings without the logistical hurdles of in-person visits.
Demographic Trends Reveal Disparities and Progress
While the overall prevalence of autism is rising, the report underscores persistent disparities in who gets diagnosed—and when.
Boys remain significantly more likely to be diagnosed than girls. According to the report, boys were 3.4 times more likely than girls to receive an autism diagnosis. This gender gap has been a consistent finding in autism research and may reflect both genuine differences in presentation and historical biases in diagnostic criteria that favor “male-typical” symptoms.
Racial and ethnic data from the ADDM Network provides a more nuanced and evolving picture. For many years, white children were more likely to be diagnosed than children from minority backgrounds, often due to disparities in healthcare access and cultural stigma. However, that trend has reversed. In 2022, autism prevalence was lowest among white children (2.7%) and highest among American Indian or Alaska Native (3.8%), Asian or Pacific Islander (3.8%), and Black children (3.7%). Hispanic children (3.3%) and multiracial children (3.2%) also had higher prevalence rates than white children.
This shift reflects efforts to reduce diagnostic inequities and improve outreach in historically underserved communities. Yet, it also emphasizes the importance of continued investment in equitable access to screening and services—particularly in areas where economic hardship, language barriers, or healthcare shortages persist.
In fact, five of the surveillance sites reported higher autism prevalence in areas with lower median household incomes or increased social vulnerability. These findings stress the need for targeted public health strategies that address the root causes of diagnostic inequity and ensure all children receive timely and comprehensive support.
Intellectual Disability and Co-Occurring Conditions
Autism often coexists with other developmental or medical challenges, and the CDC’s report provides insight into these complex intersections. One of the most striking findings is that 39.6% of children with autism also had an intellectual disability. This rate was even higher among Black children (52.8%) and American Indian or Alaska Native children (50%).
These disparities may be influenced by several factors, including socioeconomic conditions, limited access to early intervention, food and housing insecurity, and environmental stressors. Children facing these challenges may be more likely to experience developmental delays—or to receive a diagnosis only after more severe symptoms emerge, leading to a higher likelihood of co-occurring intellectual disabilities being recorded.
How and When Children Are Diagnosed
The report also examined how children are identified with autism and at what age. Schools played a pivotal role in diagnosis: 67.3% of children were identified through special education eligibility, making educational systems an essential access point for evaluation and support. However, the study found that nearly 18% of those children had no documented medical diagnosis of autism—relying solely on educational classification. This gap is concerning, as it may limit access to medical services and put children at risk of losing support when they age out of the school system.
The median age of diagnosis was 47 months, or just under four years. Encouragingly, about half of the children were evaluated by age 3. Children born in 2018 were more likely to be identified by age 4 than those born in 2014, suggesting that efforts to promote early developmental screening are making a measurable difference.
Early diagnosis is critical, as timely intervention can significantly improve outcomes in communication, behavior, and social development. The earlier a child receives support, the better their long-term prospects for independence and quality of life.
What the Data Means for the Future
As autism prevalence continues to climb, the implications for public health, education, and social services are significant. There is a clear and urgent need to scale up services that support autistic individuals and their families—not only during early childhood, but throughout life.
This means expanding access to early intervention programs, investing in specialized training for educators and healthcare providers, and creating more inclusive school environments. It also means developing long-term plans for autistic adults, who often face gaps in housing, employment, and health services after they age out of pediatric care systems.
Importantly, the rising numbers call for sustained investment in autism research—not only to understand its complex causes but also to develop more personalized and effective support strategies. While the increased prevalence suggests better identification, it also underscores the reality that more families are navigating the challenges of autism diagnosis and care.
A Call for Policy Change and Lifelong Support
As public awareness of autism grows, policies and funding mechanisms must keep pace. This includes bolstering Medicaid and insurance coverage for autism-related services, improving access to culturally competent care, and supporting caregivers who often face emotional and financial strain.
The new data from the CDC is not just a report—it’s a call to action. With 1 in 31 children in the U.S. now diagnosed with autism, we must reimagine how our systems respond to neurodiversity. That means acknowledging disparities, closing service gaps, and committing to a future where every autistic person—regardless of race, income, or gender—has the opportunity to thrive.