Key Findings: Estimated Number of Adults Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United States, 2017

What to know

  • An estimated 5,437,988 (2.21%) adults in the United States have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to findings from 2017.
  • CDC is supporting multiple projects looking at the needs of people with ASD as they transition to adulthood.
Family hugging and smiling with young adult son in the center

Background

A study1 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among adults aged 18 years and older in the United States in 2017.* This study fills a gap in data on adults living with ASD in the United States because there is not an existing surveillance system to collect this information.

A group of young adults talking and laughing while drinking coffee at a cafe.
Approximately 2.21% of adults in the United States have ASD, according to data from 2017.

*Estimates were based on modeling inputs from state-based population and mortality data and parent-report survey data of U.S. children diagnosed with ASD.

Key findings from CDC's study

An estimated 5,437,988 (2.21%) adults in the United States have ASD.

  • The prevalence of US adults with ASD ranged from a low of 1.97% in Louisiana to a high of 2.42% in Massachusetts.
  • The states with the greatest estimated number of adults living with ASD included California (701,669), Texas (449,631), New York (342,280), and Florida (329,131).

Consistent with estimates of ASD in US school-aged children, prevalence was found to be higher in men than in women.

  • Approximately 4,357,667 (3.62%) male adults were estimated to have ASD, with state estimates ranging from 3.17% of men in South Dakota to 4.01% of men in Massachusetts.
  • Approximately 1,080,322 (0.86%) female adults were estimated to have ASD, with state estimates ranging from 0.72% of women in Arkansas to 0.97% of women in Virginia.

ASD is a lifelong condition, and many adults with ASD need ongoing services and supports. The findings from this study can help states determine the need for diagnosing and providing services to adults in the United States who remain unidentified with ASD.

See Also: National and State Estimates of Adults with ASD, 2017

Ongoing CDC work for adults living with ASD

Keep Reading: Autism Spectrum Disorder in Teenagers and Adults
Print
Content Source:
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
  1. Dietz PM, Rose CE, McArthur D, Maenner M. National and State Estimates of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2020;50(12):4258-4266.