Learning Disability Today
Supporting professionals working in learning disability and autism services

Global prevalence of autism hits over 60 million

New data shows that the global prevalence of autism in 2021 was over 60 million people, and autism was one of the top ten causes of non-fatal health burden for people aged under 20 years.

This means that in 2021, one in 127 people globally were estimated to be autistic, substantially higher than the one in 271 estimated in 2019.

The research published in the Lancet is taken from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 and found that autism is significantly higher among males, at 1,065 cases per 100,000 males, almost double of global prevalence among females (508 per 100,000 females).

Regions like High-Income Asia Pacific, including Japan, recorded the highest prevalence globally (1,560 per 100,000 people), while Tropical Latin America and Bangladesh reported the lowest. Despite differences in sex and region, autistic people are present globally across all age groups, with rising disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to population growth.

Urgent need for early detection of autism

The authors said that the findings suggest that there is an urgent need for early diagnosis and sustained support for autistic individuals and their caregivers worldwide.

Also, improved geographic data coverage and targeted interventions for comorbidities and mortality risks, such as suicide, are essential steps in this effort.

They added: “These findings provide a critical foundation for shaping policies and practices that enhance the quality of life for millions of autistic individuals worldwide.

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“Although the importance of early detection and intervention cannot be overstated, we must also reconsider how the service needs of autistic people evolve across the lifespan. Addressing not only the needs of autistic children and adolescents but also those of adults, who often remain under-represented in research and service provision, is imperative.”

The study was funded by Queensland Health and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Alison Bloomer
Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today. She has over 25 years of experience writing for medical journals and trade publications. Subjects include healthcare, pharmaceuticals, disability, insurance, stock market and emerging technologies. She is also a mother to a gorgeous 13-year-old boy who has a learning disability.

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