Newest CDC ADDM findings show 1 in 36 children, or 2.8% of 8-year-olds, are identified with autism in the United States, and that still leaves a lot unanswered about what happens next. From co-occurring intellectual disability and mental health conditions to the age of first diagnosis and gaps tied to income, race, and sex, the picture is far more uneven than many expect.
Key Takeaways
- Approximately 37% of children with ASD have intellectual disability per CDC 2020 surveillance across US sites
- CDC ADDM 2023 reports 33% of 8-year-olds with ASD had co-occurring intellectual disability (IQ<70)
- NSCH 2020 data: 40% of children with ASD also have anxiety or depression diagnoses
- Males are diagnosed with ASD at a rate 3.8 times higher than females per CDC 2020 data (1 in 26 vs 1 in 102 for 8-year-olds)
- CDC ADDM 2023 reports median age of earliest known ASD diagnosis for 8-year-olds in 2020 was 4 years 6 months, up from 4 years 3 months in 2018
- NSCH 2020 data shows ASD diagnosis rates highest in children from high-income families (3.3%) vs low-income (2.1%)
- ABA therapy leads to 47% improvement in IQ for young children with ASD per 2023 meta-analysis of US trials
- CDC 2023: 50% of 8-year-olds with ASD received behavioral intervention by age 4
- Autism Speaks: Early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) reduces symptoms by 40% in 2-5 year olds
- Lifetime societal cost of ASD per person estimated at $2.4 million USD (2011 dollars) per JAMA Pediatrics 2022 update
- Autism Speaks 2023: Annual US economic burden of ASD at $268 billion, projected $461B by 2025
- NSCH 2020: Only 22% of autistic young adults employed full-time post-high school
- According to the CDC's 2023 report on 2020 data from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, 1 in 36 (2.8%) 8-year-old children across 11 sites in the US were identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- The CDC ADDM Network 2023 report shows prevalence of ASD among 8-year-olds varied by site, highest at 4.5% (1 in 22) in California and lowest at 2.3% (1 in 44) in Maryland
- CDC data from 2020 indicates 1 in 93 4-year-old children were identified with ASD, marking a significant increase from previous years due to improved surveillance
About one third of children with autism also have intellectual disability, alongside many co occurring mental health conditions.
Related reading
01 · Category
Comorbidities28 stats
01
Approximately 37% of children with ASD have intellectual disability per CDC 2020 surveillance across US sites
02
CDC ADDM 2023 reports 33% of 8-year-olds with ASD had co-occurring intellectual disability (IQ<70)
03
NSCH 2020 data: 40% of children with ASD also have anxiety or depression diagnoses
04
A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study found 70% of US children with ASD have at least one co-occurring mental health condition
05
CDC data shows 27% of children with ASD have epilepsy, compared to 1% in general population
06
Autism Speaks 2023: 32-42% of children with ASD have intellectual disability
07
A 2021 study in Pediatrics reports 52% of autistic children experience sleep disturbances
08
NSCH 2020: 28% of ASD children have ADHD comorbidity, highest among neurodevelopmental disorders
09
CDC ADDM 2020: 15% of 8-year-olds with ASD had regressed in development prior to diagnosis
10
A 2023 Lancet Psychiatry meta-analysis estimates 50% lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorders in US autistic adults
11
75% of adults with ASD have executive functioning deficits per 2022 Autism Research study
12
CDC data: Gastrointestinal issues reported in 50% of children with ASD vs 20% neurotypical
13
NSCH 2020: 22% of ASD children have conduct or oppositional defiant disorder
14
A 2021 study found 44% of autistic individuals have sensory processing disorders
15
Autism Society 2023: 1 in 3 autistic adults unemployed partly due to comorbid mental health issues
16
CDC ADDM: 12% of children with ASD have moderate/severe intellectual disability
17
2022 MMWR: Among ASD children, 78% had special education needs, often with speech/language impairments (60%)
18
A 2023 study reports 35% of US autistic children have asthma comorbidity, higher than general 10%
19
NSCH data: Depression diagnosed in 14% of ASD teens vs 3% general population
20
CDC 2020: Visual impairments in 13% of 8-year-olds with ASD
21
A 2021 meta-analysis shows OCD comorbidity in 17% of autistic individuals
22
42% of autistic children exhibit self-injurious behaviors per 2022 study
23
CDC reports hearing problems in 7% of ASD children vs 1% general
24
NSCH 2020: Eating disorders in 12% of ASD adolescents
25
A 2023 study: 25% of adults with ASD have schizophrenia spectrum comorbidity
26
CDC ADDM: 20% of ASD children had any birth defect noted
27
55% of autistic adults report chronic pain conditions per 2022 survey
28
NSCH: Learning disabilities comorbid with ASD in 68% of diagnosed children
Interpretation
Comorbidities Interpretation
Across US surveillance and national surveys, comorbid conditions are extremely common in autism, with about 33 to 40 percent of children with ASD also showing intellectual disability and 27 percent experiencing epilepsy, underscoring why comorbidities are a central part of the ASD picture rather than an exception.
02 · Category
Demographics25 stats
01
Males are diagnosed with ASD at a rate 3.8 times higher than females per CDC 2020 data (1 in 26 vs 1 in 102 for 8-year-olds)
02
CDC ADDM 2023 reports median age of earliest known ASD diagnosis for 8-year-olds in 2020 was 4 years 6 months, up from 4 years 3 months in 2018
03
NSCH 2020 data shows ASD diagnosis rates highest in children from high-income families (3.3%) vs low-income (2.1%)
04
CDC 2020 data: ASD prevalence among Black children aged 8 rose to 3.3% from 2.0% in 2018, narrowing racial gaps
05
A 2021 study found average ASD diagnosis age for US girls is 4.8 years vs 4.2 for boys
06
Autism Speaks 2023: 4.2% of US children have ASD or other developmental disabilities, with demographics shifting toward more diverse identification
07
CDC ADDM shows 78% of 8-year-old children with ASD were boys in 2020
08
NSCH 2020: ASD more common in urban areas (3.0%) than rural (2.1%) for children 3-17
09
A 2022 study in Molecular Autism reports ASD diagnosis age decreased to 3.8 years on average for US children post-2010
10
CDC data: Among 8-year-olds with ASD in 2020, 39% were Hispanic, 36% White, 20% Black, 5% Asian/Pacific Islander
11
JAMA Pediatrics 2017-2020 trend: Female ASD diagnosis rates increased 14% annually vs 7% for males
12
NSCH data indicates children with private insurance have 2.5 times higher ASD diagnosis odds than uninsured
13
CDC 2023: In some sites, ASD identified in 1 in 20 Black 8-year-old boys, highest demographic subgroup
14
A 2023 Pediatrics study found rural children diagnosed with ASD 1.5 years later than urban peers (5.2 vs 3.7 years)
15
Autism Society 2023: 1 in 45 adults self-identify with ASD, with higher rates among millennials (Gen Z at 2.2%)
16
CDC ADDM 2020: 28% of children with ASD had IQ >=85, 35% IQ 70-84, 37% IQ <70, varying by demographics
17
NSCH 2020: ASD prevalence 3.6% in Northeast US vs 2.4% in South for children 3-17
18
A 2021 study shows first ASD signs noted at 12 months but diagnosis at 49 months average for US toddlers
19
CDC data: Asian/Pacific Islander children had highest ASD rates among races in 7 of 11 sites in 2020
20
2022 report: Women with ASD diagnosed 36% later in life than men (average age 44 vs 29)
21
NSCH trends: ASD diagnosis in children of college-educated parents 4.1% vs 1.5% for less educated
22
CDC 2020: 51% of 8-year-olds with ASD ever received special education services by age 4, higher in urban demographics
23
A 2023 study found ASD prevalence 2x higher in siblings of diagnosed children across US demographics
24
Autism Speaks: Undiagnosed ASD in US adults estimated at 2.2%, higher in males under 30
25
CDC ADDM: Proportion of girls with ASD increased from 1 in 151 (2002) to 1 in 102 (2020) among 8-year-olds
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
Across US demographics, ASD is still diagnosed more often in boys than girls and the median diagnosis age for 8-year-olds is about 4 years 6 months, while rates differ by income and race such as 3.3% in high-income versus 2.1% in low-income and 3.3% for Black children in 2018 increasing to 3.3% in 2020, showing both persistent disparities and gradual narrowing in how diagnosis shows up across groups.
03 · Category
Interventions24 stats
01
ABA therapy leads to 47% improvement in IQ for young children with ASD per 2023 meta-analysis of US trials
02
CDC 2023: 50% of 8-year-olds with ASD received behavioral intervention by age 4
03
Autism Speaks: Early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) reduces symptoms by 40% in 2-5 year olds
04
A 2022 Pediatrics study: Speech therapy improves communication in 65% of ASD children under 3
05
NSCH 2020: 76% of children with ASD receive any therapy services
06
NIH-funded ESDM trial: Early Start Denver Model boosts cognitive scores by 17 points at age 5
07
CDC ADDM 2020: Only 36% of 4-year-olds with ASD received comprehensive developmental evaluation
08
A 2023 JAMA meta-analysis: Risperidone reduces irritability in 69% of ASD children with aggression
09
Autism Society 2023: Vocational rehab serves 15,000 autistic adults annually, improving employment by 25%
10
2022 study: TEACCH structured teaching increases independence skills by 35% in schools
11
NSCH data: 42% of ASD children receive occupational therapy
12
CDC: Special education enrollment for ASD rose to 78% of 8-year-olds in 2020
13
A 2021 review: Social skills groups improve peer interactions in 55% of ASD teens
14
2023 MMWR: Medicaid waivers support 200,000+ ASD individuals with home-based services
15
NIH: Pivotal Response Training (PRT) achieves 80% manding skill gains
16
A 2022 study: Mindfulness-based interventions reduce anxiety 30% in autistic adults
17
CDC 2020: 60% of ASD children in class of 3+ receive any school services
18
Autism Speaks: 1:1 therapy ratio yields best outcomes, with 90% skill acquisition
19
NSCH 2020: 25% of ASD families use psychotropic meds, mostly for comorbidities
20
A 2023 Pediatrics trial: Parent-mediated intervention improves joint attention by 50%
21
CDC ADDM: Any ASD intervention by age 4 in 51% of 8-year-olds tracked
22
2021 study: Floortime/DIR model enhances emotional development in 70% participants
23
NIH: Stem cell trials show 20% behavioral improvement in small US cohorts, experimental
24
A 2022 report: Supported employment programs double job retention for autistic adults
Interpretation
Interventions Interpretation
Interventions show strong early impact, with behavioral and speech therapies reaching many children and helping improvements such as ABA associated with a 47% IQ gain and speech therapy improving communication in 65% of children under age 3.
More related reading
04 · Category
Outcomes25 stats
01
Lifetime societal cost of ASD per person estimated at $2.4 million USD (2011 dollars) per JAMA Pediatrics 2022 update
02
Autism Speaks 2023: Annual US economic burden of ASD at $268 billion, projected $461B by 2025
03
NSCH 2020: Only 22% of autistic young adults employed full-time post-high school
04
CDC ADDM 2023: 30% of 8-year-olds with ASD proficient in adaptive behavior
05
A 2022 study: 85% of autistic adults face unemployment or underemployment
06
Autism Society 2023: Median income of autistic adults $19,100vs $48,000 national
07
NSCH data: 49% of ASD children graduate high school with diploma vs 79% general
08
CDC 2020: Life expectancy for severe ASD 20 years less than average (54 vs 74)
09
A 2023 JAMA: Early intervention saves $1M lifetime costs per child
10
2022 MMWR: 14% of autistic 8-year-olds non-verbal/toilet untrained
11
NIH: 50% of autistic adults live with parents lifelong
12
A 2021 study: Suicide attempt rate 3x higher in autistic females (OR=3.3)
13
CDC: Family out-of-pocket ASD costs average $17,000/year
14
Autism Speaks: 1 in 3 without paid work despite desiring employment
15
NSCH 2020: 65% of ASD young adults in postsecondary ed vs 75% general population
16
A 2023 Lancet: Wandering/elopement in 49% ASD children leads to injuries
17
CDC ADDM: 39% ASD children IQ<70 persist into adulthood with poor outcomes
18
2022 study: Independent living achieved by 17% autistic adults at age 25
19
NIH surveys: Victimization rates 2-3x higher for autistic individuals
20
A 2021 Pediatrics: Quality of life scores 20% lower in ASD teens
21
CDC 2020: Medicaid spending on ASD $48B annually
22
Autism Society: Divorce rate 2x higher in ASD families
23
NSCH: Bullying victimization in 63% of ASD schoolchildren
24
A 2023 study: 72% autistic adults report loneliness vs 30% general
25
CDC: Hospitalization rates 4x higher for ASD children due to injuries
Interpretation
Outcomes Interpretation
Across outcomes for autistic Americans, the picture is that economic and participation gaps persist, with only 22% of autistic young adults employed full-time and a median income of just $19,100 compared with $48,000 nationally, alongside very large societal costs estimated at $2.4 million per person over a lifetime.
05 · Category
Prevalence30 stats
01
According to the CDC's 2023 report on 2020 data from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, 1 in 36 (2.8%) 8-year-old children across 11 sites in the US were identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
02
The CDC ADDM Network 2023 report shows prevalence of ASD among 8-year-olds varied by site, highest at 4.5% (1 in 22) in California and lowest at 2.3% (1 in 44) in Maryland
03
CDC data from 2020 indicates 1 in 93 4-year-old children were identified with ASD, marking a significant increase from previous years due to improved surveillance
04
A 2023 study by the CDC found that ASD prevalence among Black 8-year-olds reached 3.3% (1 in 30), surpassing White children at 2.4% (1 in 42) for the first time
05
The National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) 2020 data reports that 2.8% of children aged 3-17 years in the US (1 in 36) ever received an ASD diagnosis
06
JAMA Pediatrics 2021 analysis of 2016-2020 NSCH data shows ASD prevalence increased from 2.3% to 2.8% among US children aged 3-17
07
CDC's 2023 ADDM report notes ASD identification among 4-year-olds rose to 1 in 44 (2.3%) in 2020 from 1 in 59 in 2018
08
A 2022 Autism Speaks report estimates over 5.4 million adults in the US have ASD, based on extrapolating child prevalence to the population
09
The 2019-2020 NSCH indicates 1 in 36 US children aged 3-17 have ever been diagnosed with ASD, consistent with CDC trends
10
CDC ADDM 2023 data shows 1 in 26 boys aged 8 were identified with ASD in 2020, compared to 1 in 102 girls
11
Prevalence of ASD among Asian/Pacific Islander 8-year-olds was 3.3% (1 in 30) per CDC 2020 data, highest among monitored racial groups
12
A 2021 study in Autism Research estimated ASD prevalence at 2.21% (1 in 45) for US children born in 2014
13
CDC reports from 11 ADDM sites show cumulative ASD prevalence for children aged 8 in 2020 at 27.6 per 1,000
14
NSCH 2022 data preliminary release shows ASD diagnosis in 3.2% of US boys aged 3-17
15
A 2023 Lancet study projects US ASD prevalence stabilizing around 2-3% for recent birth cohorts
16
CDC ADDM data indicates ASD prevalence tripled from 1 in 150 in 2000 to 1 in 36 in 2020 among 8-year-olds
17
In 2020, 1 in 34 White 8-year-olds had ASD per CDC, up from previous years
18
Autism Speaks 2023 cites 1 in 44 overall child ASD prevalence from 2018 CDC data
19
A 2022 MMWR report from CDC details 2.8% ASD prevalence in 11 communities for 2020 birth cohort surveillance
20
NSCH data shows 1.1 million US children aged 3-17 with current ASD diagnosis in 2020
21
CDC 2023 notes ASD identification in 4.2% of 8-year-old boys in some sites like New Jersey
22
Prevalence among Hispanic 8-year-olds at 3.3% (1 in 30) in 2020 CDC data
23
A 2021 Pediatrics study estimates 1 in 54 US children with ASD based on 2016 data
24
CDC ADDM shows rural ASD prevalence at 2.0% vs urban 3.0% for 8-year-olds in 2020
25
2023 estimates from Autism Society project 7.8 million US adults with ASD by 2030 if trends continue
26
CDC data reveals 1 in 23 8-year-old Black boys with ASD in 2020, highest subgroup rate
27
NSCH 2018-2019 data: 2.5% of US children aged 3-17 diagnosed with ASD
28
A 2022 JAMA study reports ASD prevalence of 2.76% in California 8-year-olds
29
CDC 2020 surveillance: 1 in 29 Asian/Pacific Islander boys aged 8 with ASD
30
Overall US child ASD prevalence estimated at 3% by 2025 per 2023 modeling study
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
Autism prevalence in the United States is consistently around 2.8 percent, with the CDC and NSCH both reporting 1 in 36 children, and recent analyses show it has risen over time from 2.3 percent to 2.8 percent between 2016 and 2020.
06 · Category
Risk Factors28 stats
01
CDC 2020 data links advanced parental age to 66% increased ASD risk
02
A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study confirms prenatal exposure to air pollution increases ASD risk by 1.5-2 times in US cohorts
03
CDC reports maternal obesity (BMI>30) associated with 1.6-fold ASD risk increase
04
NIH 2023: Heritability of ASD estimated at 80-90% from twin studies in US populations
05
A 2021 meta-analysis shows maternal diabetes raises ASD odds by 73% (OR=1.73)
06
CDC ADDM links low birth weight (<2500g) to 2-3 times higher ASD prevalence
07
Autism Speaks 2023: 20-25% recurrence risk in siblings of ASD child
08
A 2023 Environmental Health Perspectives study: Pesticide exposure in utero increases ASD risk 1.8-fold in California
09
CDC data: Premature birth (<37 weeks) associated with 1.5x ASD risk
10
NIH-funded study: De novo genetic mutations account for 10-30% ASD cases
11
A 2022 Pediatrics report: Maternal SSRI use in first trimester OR=1.66 for ASD
12
CDC 2020: Fathers over 50 have 1.66x risk of fathering ASD child vs under 25
13
A 2021 study: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy linked to 2.5x ASD risk
14
Autism Society: Assisted reproductive technologies increase ASD risk by 1.5x
15
CDC links maternal infections (e.g., rubella) to elevated ASD odds ratio 2.0
16
A 2023 JAMA study: Extreme maternal stress (bereavement) OR=1.3 for ASD
17
NIH: Over 100 genes strongly linked to ASD risk, with polygenic scores predicting 10-20% variance
18
2022 MMWR: No MMR vaccine-ASD link confirmed in US surveillance (OR=0.97)
19
A 2021 meta-analysis: Parental autoimmune diseases raise ASD risk 1.4-fold
20
CDC: Multiple birth (twins+) associated with 1.8x ASD risk
21
Environmental toxins like heavy metals (mercury) weakly associated (OR=1.2) per 2023 review
22
A 2022 study: Maternal fever during pregnancy OR=1.4 for ASD if untreated
23
CDC ADDM: Boys with preterm birth have 3x ASD rate vs term-born boys
24
NIH: Rare copy number variants (CNVs) contribute to 10% ASD etiology
25
A 2023 study: Assisted ventilation at birth OR=2.3 for ASD
26
Maternal smoking minimal risk (OR=1.1) per large US cohorts
27
2021 Lancet: Gene-environment interactions explain 50% ASD variance
28
CDC reports early life valproic acid exposure OR=10.0 for ASD
Interpretation
Risk Factors Interpretation
Across major US studies, autism risk is consistently higher when key biological and prenatal factors are present, with increases reaching 1.5 to 2 times from air pollution, a 1.6-fold jump linked to maternal obesity, and 2 to 3 times higher rates for low birth weight.
report visual · Key figures
Common co-occurring conditions in autism (CDC/major studies)
Across studies, intellectual disability and mental health conditions are among the most frequently reported comorbidities in autistic children.
37%
Approximately 37% of children with ASD have intellectual disability per CDC 2020 surveillance across US sites
33%
CDC ADDM 2023 reports 33% of 8-year-olds with ASD had co-occurring intellectual disability (IQ<70)
40%
NSCH 2020 data: 40% of children with ASD also have anxiety or depression diagnoses
70%
A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study found 70% of US children with ASD have at least one co-occurring mental health condition
27%
CDC data shows 27% of children with ASD have epilepsy, compared to 1% in general population
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Christopher Morgan. (2026, February 13). Autism In America Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/autism-in-america-statistics
MLA
Christopher Morgan. "Autism In America Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/autism-in-america-statistics.
Chicago
Christopher Morgan. 2026. "Autism In America Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/autism-in-america-statistics.
Sources & references
12 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level