Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Definition
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by:
- Ongoing social-emotional problems that include difficulty communicating and interacting with others
- Repetitive behaviors as well as restricted interests or activities
- Symptoms that are typically recognizable in the first two years of life
- Symptoms that hurt the individual’s ability to function socially, at school or work, or other areas of life
Additional information can be found on the NIMH Health Topics page on Autism Spectrum Disorder and on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Autism Spectrum Disorder webpage.
Prevalence of ASD
- Prevalence data for ASD comes from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network .
- The table below shows data from the most recent ADDM Network prevalence estimates (published April 2025). Data were collected from health and special education records of 8-year-old children living in 16 areas of the United States during 2022.
- Across the CDC surveillance sites, an average of 1 in every 31 (3.2%) 8-year-old children were estimated to have ASD in 2022.
- ASD is 3.4 times as prevalent among boys (4.9%) as among girls (1.4%).
- ASD is reported to occur in all racial and ethnic groups.
Table 1
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| Prevalence2 | Percent2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 32.2 per 1,000 | 3.2% | |
| Sex | Boys | 49.2 per 1,000 | 4.9% |
| Girls | 14.3 per 1,000 | 1.4% | |
| Race/Ethnicity | White | 27.7 per 1,000 | 2.8% |
| Black | 36.6 per 1,000 | 3.7% | |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 38.2 per 1,000 | 3.8% | |
| Hispanic3 | 33.0 per 1,000 | 3.3% | |
| American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) | 37.5 per 1,0004 | 3.8% | |
| Two or more races | 31.9 per 1,000 | 3.2% | |
1The percent (i.e., rate per 100) was calculated by NIMH.
2Please see the measurement caveats regarding age below.
3All other groups are non-Hispanic.
4Georgia was the only Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network site meeting the threshold for statistical precision for AI/AN autism spectrum disorder prevalence in 2022. Please see the ADDM publication for more information.
Data Sources
Shaw KA, Williams, S, Patrick ME, et al. Prevalence and Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 4 and 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 16 Sites, United States, 2022. MMWR Surveill Summ 2025;74(No. SS-2):1–25. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss7402a1
The ADDM Network is a group of programs funded by the CDC to estimate the number of children with ASD and other developmental disabilities living in different areas of the United States. The ADDM Network prevalence estimates are based on data collected from health and special education records of 8-year-old children living in 16 areas of the United States during 2022.
Measurement Caveats
- ASD prevalence estimates and median age of identification vary widely across sites and states. The final numbers only represent averages from across the states included in the ADDM Network. These data may not be interpreted as applying to the overall U.S. prevalence rate for ASD.
- The data presented here were collected only for 8-year-olds. These data may not be extrapolated and applied for other age cohorts.
Last Updated: July 2025