Autism Rates: What the Latest CDC Data Tells Us

Why are autism rates rising?

In recent years, conversations around autism have grown louder—and for good reason. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism rates have reached a new high, with 1 in 31 children in the United States identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by age 8. For many families, this increase raises pressing questions: Why are these numbers climbing? What does this mean for children, parents, and educators? And most importantly, what’s behind this rise?

Let’s take a closer look at what these autism rates mean, why they’re increasing, and how we can better understand and support individuals with autism without falling into myths or panic in this blog by ABA Centers of Florida.

Autism Rates: What the Latest CDC Data Shows

In April 2025, the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network released new data showing that autism rates have risen to 32.2 per 1,000 children aged 8 years (1 in 31), up from 27.6 per 1,000 (1 in 36) in their previous report from 2020. This continuing upward trend demands our attention, but interpreting these numbers requires careful consideration.

The CDC’s monitoring network collected data across 16 diverse communities throughout the United States, examining health and educational records to identify children who meet the criteria for autism spectrum disorder. This comprehensive approach gives us our best picture of autism prevalence across different populations.

Several notable patterns emerged from the data:

• Boys continue to be diagnosed with autism at higher rates than girls—approximately 3.4 times higher (49.2 per 1,000 boys versus 14.3 per 1,000 girls).
• For the first time, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial children showed higher prevalence rates than white children.
• Early identification has improved significantly, with children born in 2018 showing 1.7 times higher rates of diagnosis by 48 months compared to children born in 2014.
• The prevalence varies dramatically by location, ranging from 9.7 per 1,000 children in Laredo, Texas, to 53.1 in California.

Why Are Autism Rates Rising? Understanding the Factors

The increase in autism rates doesn’t necessarily mean that more children are developing autism. Instead, several key factors help explain the rising numbers:

1. Better Recognition and Awareness

Perhaps the most significant factor behind increasing autism rates is that we’ve gotten much better at recognizing autism. Healthcare providers, educators, and parents are more familiar with the signs of autism than ever before. Heightened awareness allows health providers to identify children who may have been overlooked in past generations.

Public awareness campaigns, improved provider training, and media representation have all contributed to this change. Parents are more likely to recognize developmental differences early and seek evaluation, while pediatricians are more attuned to the early signs of autism during well-child visits.

2. Expanded Diagnostic Criteria

The definition of autism has evolved significantly over time. The diagnostic criteria have broadened to include a broader spectrum of presentations, bringing more children under the autism umbrella who might previously have received different diagnoses or no diagnosis at all.

In 2013, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) consolidated previously separate conditions (autistic disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified) into a single diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

3. Improved Screening and Diagnostic Practices

Standardized screening for autism is now recommended for all children at 18 and 24 months of age, regardless of whether parents and caregivers have some concerns. These universal screening practices help identify children who might otherwise fly under the radar, particularly those with more subtle presentations.

The CDC report highlighted significant improvements in early identification. Children born in 2018 were 1.7 times more likely to receive an autism diagnosis by age four than children born in 2014. Earlier identification means more children are being counted in autism rates who might previously have been diagnosed later or missed entirely.

4. Better Access to Diagnostic Services

While significant disparities still exist, many communities have improved access to diagnostic services. We see this improvement in the changing demographic patterns of autism rates. The fact that autism prevalence is now higher among historically underserved racial and ethnic groups suggests that access to diagnostic services may be improving for these populations.

The CDC report noted that in 2022, Asian/Pacific Islander children had the highest prevalence (38.2 per 1,000), followed by American Indian/Alaska Native (37.5), Black (36.6), Hispanic (33.0), and multiracial children (31.9), with White children having the lowest prevalence (27.7). This new data reverses historical patterns where White children had the highest diagnosed prevalence, suggesting improvements in reaching underserved communities.