Rocks Make Pebbles
MenuClose

Data

Autism in the UK: key statistics (2026)

Updated Next update after 25 minute read

In short

In GP records for 2018, 2.94% of 10 to 14-year-olds in England had an autism diagnosis; in Northern Ireland, 6.2% of school-age children were identified as autistic in 2025/26. In June 2026, 294,792 people in England had an open autism assessment referral (86.8% for 13 weeks or more), excluding community paediatrics. In January 2026, autism was the most common primary need on England's EHC plans (31.5%).

Key points

  • In GP records for 2018, 2.94% of 10 to 14-year-olds in England had an autism diagnosis; many autistic people are still undiagnosed.
  • In June 2026, 294,792 people in England had an open autism assessment referral, 86.8% for 13 weeks or more (community paediatrics excluded).
  • Autism is the most common primary need on EHC plans in England: 31.5% of 718,838 plans in January 2026.
  • Boys are diagnosed more often, but a 2017 review found a ratio nearer 3 to 1 than 4 to 1, suggesting girls are missed.
  • Estimates from 2013 and 2018 suggest 25% to 30% of autistic children stay minimally speaking into school age; many late talkers later use phrases.
  • Figures differ because sources count different things, such as recorded diagnoses, school records, people waiting or estimates.
On this page
  1. In short
  2. About these figures
  3. How common is autism in the UK?
  4. Are boys more likely to be autistic than girls?
  5. How long is the wait for an autism assessment?
  6. How much does a private autism assessment cost?
  7. Education: SEN support, EHC plans and tribunals in England
  8. Communication: talking, AAC and speech therapy
  9. How common are co-occurring conditions?
  10. How common are sleep, eating and toileting difficulties?
  11. How often do autistic children wander or go missing?
  12. How are parents and families affected?
  13. Why do different sources give different numbers?
  14. How we keep these figures up to date
  15. Questions people ask
  16. Sources

About these figures

This page brings together the most useful published figures on autism in the UK, each with its date and a link to its source. Most detailed data are for England, so we say when a figure covers Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the whole UK or another country. Where a figure is an estimate, comes from a small study or is from outside the UK, we say so. All figures were checked on 28 September 2026. If you quote a figure, please cite the original source.

How common is autism in the UK?

There is no single, current count of autistic people in the UK. The figures below measure different things, such as recorded diagnoses, school records or estimates, which is why they do not match (see "Why do different sources give different numbers?" below).

Figure What it means Source and date
More than 1 in 100 people are autistic, and at least 700,000 autistic adults and children live in the UK A long-standing charity estimate for all ages. Newer data show much higher rates of diagnosis in children. National Autistic Society (page undated)
2.94% of 10 to 14-year-olds in England (about 1 in 34) had a recorded autism diagnosis From GP records for 2018. The figure for people aged 70 and over was 0.02% (about 1 in 6,000). O'Nions et al., April 2023
About 1 in 250 children aged 5 to 9 had a new autism diagnosis recorded in 2018 This counts new diagnoses in one year (incidence), not all autistic children. O'Nions et al., April 2023
463,500 people in England (0.82%) may have an autism diagnosis, and between 435,700 and 1,197,300 may be autistic but undiagnosed Exploratory projections by the researchers from 2018 GP records: 59% to 72% of autistic people in England may not have a diagnosis. O'Nions et al., April 2023
Recorded new autism diagnoses in UK GP records rose by 787% between 1998 and 2018 The rise was greater in females and adults. The researchers say it is more likely due to more recognition and diagnosis than to more people being autistic. Russell et al., 2022
6.2% of school-age children in Northern Ireland (about 1 in 16) were identified as autistic in 2025/26 From the Northern Ireland School Census. Department of Health NI, May 2026
33.5% of pupils with an EHC plan in England had autism as their primary need in January 2026 The most common primary need for this group. The primary need is the main need recorded by the school, not a count of diagnoses. Department for Education, June 2026
42,530 children in Scotland were waiting for a neurodevelopmental assessment in March 2025 About 1 in 25 children aged 0 to 18. This counts children waiting, not children diagnosed. SPICe, June 2025
About 1 in 127 people worldwide were autistic in 2021 The World Health Organization's figure, based on the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study. WHO, September 2025; IHME
1 in 31 (32.2 per 1,000) 8-year-olds in the United States were identified as autistic in 2022 From 16 US monitoring sites, not a national sample. Rates ranged from 9.7 to 53.1 per 1,000 between sites. This is not a UK figure. US CDC, Shaw et al., April 2025

The researchers behind the UK GP-records study say the rise in diagnoses is more likely to reflect better recognition and wider diagnosis than more people being autistic (Russell et al., 2022). Autism is mostly genetic: twin and family studies estimate its heritability at about 80% (Bai et al., 2019), and the NHS says autism is not caused by vaccines or medicines (NHS).

Are boys more likely to be autistic than girls?

Boys are diagnosed more often than girls, but research suggests many girls are missed.

Figure What it means Source and date
About 4 boys for every girl across 54 studies, but closer to 3 to 1 in the highest-quality studies The authors conclude the true ratio is closer to 3:1 than the often-quoted 4:1, which suggests a diagnostic bias against girls. Loomes, Hull and Mandy, June 2017
Boys were 3.4 times as likely as girls to be identified (49.2 compared with 14.3 per 1,000 8-year-olds) US monitoring sites, 2022 data. US CDC, Shaw et al., April 2025
Boys were 2.3 times as likely as girls to be identified as autistic at school Northern Ireland, 2025/26. Department of Health NI, May 2026
Recorded new diagnoses rose more steeply in females than in males, 1998 to 2018 UK GP records. Russell et al., 2022

The NHS says it can be harder to see some signs of autism in girls because of masking: autistic girls may be more likely to copy how other children behave and play, be quiet in situations they find difficult and appear to cope with social situations, and autistic boys can mask too (NHS). A review of research on girls and young women found parents reported barriers including girls' ways of compensating, other people's perceptions, a lack of information and clinician bias (Lockwood Estrin et al., 2021).

How long is the wait for an autism assessment?

Waits are long in all four nations and vary a lot between areas. NICE recommends that an autism assessment starts within 3 months of referral (NICE CG128), but this standard is widely missed.

Where Figure What it means Source and date
England 294,792 people had an open referral for suspected autism in June 2026 All ages; NHS England does not publish a separate figure for children. The figures come from NHS mental health services data and do not yet include community paediatric services, where many children are assessed, so they do not count every child waiting. There were 270,701 in March 2026. NHS England Digital, August 2026; May 2026
England 256,017 (86.8%) of those referrals had been open for 13 weeks or more These are official statistics in development, and some providers' data were missing. NHS England Digital, August 2026
England 17,509 new referrals in June 2026, 6.9% more than in June 2025 A single month's figure, which changes from month to month. The National Autistic Society says average waits are as high as three years in some areas. NHS England Digital, August 2026; NAS, August 2026
England For children, the average time to a diagnosis was 791 days in community health services and 527 days in mental health services 2022-23 data. Almost 1 in 6 children referred through community health services waited more than 4 years for a diagnosis. Children's Commissioner, October 2024
England At least nine integrated care boards paused or restricted new Right to Choose referrals for ADHD and autism assessments Late 2025 to early 2026. The government said in May 2026 that the legal right has not changed. Special Needs Jungle, January 2026; UK Parliament, May 2026
Scotland 42,530 children waiting for a neurodevelopmental assessment (March 2025). Health boards' median waits ranged from 22 weeks (Western Isles) to 141 weeks (Ayrshire and Arran), and averaged 76 weeks across the boards that reported them There is no national waiting-time target for neurodevelopmental assessment. SPICe, June 2025
Wales The target is for 80% of children and young people to be assessed within 26 weeks. In June 2023, 67% of those waiting for an ADHD or autism assessment had waited 26 weeks or more, and 45% over a year The number of children and young people waiting for an ADHD or autism assessment rose 87% between February 2022 and December 2023. Senedd Research, November 2024
Wales The Welsh Government said four-year waits for children's neurodevelopmental assessments had been eliminated, and set a target to end three-year waits by March 2026 Ministerial statement, June 2025. We have not found a published update on whether the March 2026 target was met. Welsh Government, June 2025
Northern Ireland 17,205 children were waiting for an autism assessment on 8 October 2025 The Health Minister said autism services "do not currently have the capacity to meet this need". That is nearly as many as the 17,760 school-aged children with a confirmed diagnosis in 2024/25. FactCheckNI, November 2025
UK About 3.5 years on average from first approaching a professional to diagnosis A survey of 1,047 UK parents, published in 2016, so the figure is older. Parents also usually waited about a year after first concerns before asking for help. Crane et al., 2016

How much does a private autism assessment cost?

There is no official source on typical private costs. The prices below were published by providers and seen in September 2026; most pages are undated, and listing a price is not a recommendation.

Figure What it means Source and date
£1,350 NHS England's non-mandatory 2026/27 guide price for a face-to-face autism assessment for a child or young person (£1,500 for a combined ADHD and autism assessment). This is a price for NHS-funded services, not what families pay. NHS England, March 2026
£2,290 to £3,800 The National Autistic Society's own self-funded Diagnostic and Assessment Service, which says fees "typically range" between these amounts. National Autistic Society (page undated)
£2,250 Clinical Partners, children aged 5 and over, including questionnaires, a parent interview (ADI-R), ADOS-2 with the child, a team review and a written report. Clinical Partners (page undated)
£2,199 Acorn Autism Specialists, including ADOS-2, a parent interview, school or nursery input, a report and a feedback appointment. Acorn Autism Specialists (page undated)
£1,900 upfront or £2,000 in monthly payments Autism 360, with lower prices (£1,580 or £1,680) for people receiving Universal Credit. Autism 360, September 2026
About 13 hours A conservative median estimate of the clinician time needed for each child assessed, from a UK survey of children's autism assessment teams that NHS England cites. NHS England, April 2023

Before paying, check that the team includes the professionals NICE recommends: a paediatrician or child psychiatrist, a speech and language therapist and a psychologist (NICE CG128). The National Autistic Society advises checking that professionals are registered with an appropriate body such as the HCPC, and says some families have difficulty getting a non-NHS diagnosis accepted by NHS services and councils (NAS). Support at nursery or school should be based on need, not diagnosis (IPSEA).

Education: SEN support, EHC plans and tribunals in England

These figures are for England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different systems and publish different data.

Figure What it means Source and date
1,858,327 pupils (20.8%) had special educational needs in January 2026 Up 91,400 (5.2%) on 2025. This includes 538,547 pupils with an EHC plan (6.0%) and 1,319,780 on SEN support (14.8%). Department for Education, June 2026
33.5% of pupils with an EHC plan had autism as their primary need The most common primary need for these pupils, followed by speech, language and communication needs (22.1%). For pupils on SEN support, the most common needs were speech, language and communication (25.7%) and social, emotional and mental health (24.8%). Department for Education, June 2026
718,838 EHC plans were in place in January 2026, for children and young people aged 0 to 25 12.5% more than in January 2025, the highest yearly increase since EHC plans were introduced in 2014. Department for Education, June 2026
31.5% of all EHC plans had autism as the primary need The most common primary need, followed by speech, language and communication needs (22.3%) and social, emotional and mental health (21.4%). Among new plans issued in 2025, autism was 25.8%. Department for Education, June 2026
162,702 requests for an EHC needs assessment in 2025 Councils agreed to assess 65.2% and refused 43,300 (26.6%). They agreed to 75.8% of requests from schools but 44.0% of requests from parents. Department for Education, June 2026
46.1% of new EHC plans were issued within the 20-week legal time limit in 2025 Excluding cases where exceptions apply. The average was 24.0 weeks, and 10.3% took more than a year. Department for Education, June 2026
25,000 SEND Tribunal appeals were registered in 2024/25 Up 18%, the ninth yearly rise in a row. Of the appeals decided by the tribunal (71% of outcomes), 99% were in favour of the appellant, which means they won the majority of their appeal. Ministry of Justice, December 2025
400 disability discrimination claims were registered with the SEND Tribunal in 2024/25 Of those decided at a hearing, 52% were upheld (63% in 2023/24). Ministry of Justice, December 2025
45.5% of children and young people with EHC plans attended mainstream schools, and 29.4% special schools Autism accounted for 37.2% of EHC plan needs in special schools. Department for Education, June 2026
9,100 children and young people with EHC plans were electively home educated in January 2026 27.1% more than a year earlier. Department for Education, June 2026

The Department for Education says the type of need recorded "does not indicate prevalence of a medical condition or diagnosis". Many young autistic children, especially those not yet diagnosed, may be recorded under speech, language and communication needs instead. The EHC plans release gives the speech, language and communication share of all plans as 22.3% in its headline and 21.3% elsewhere.

Communication: talking, AAC and speech therapy

Communication varies a lot between autistic children. These figures come mainly from international research.

Figure What it means Source and date
About 25% to 30% of autistic children do not develop functional spoken language or are minimally speaking A background estimate in a Cochrane review. There is no agreed definition of minimally speaking; research often uses fewer than 30 functional words. Brignell et al., Cochrane, 2018; Koegel et al., 2020
About 30% remain minimally speaking into school age, even after years of intervention The researchers describe a very varied group with no single set of characteristics. Tager-Flusberg and Kasari, 2013
70% of 535 children with no phrase speech at age 4 later used phrases, and 47% spoke fluently One large US study of children referred to clinics, assessed at age 8 or older. It cannot predict what will happen for any one child. Wodka, Mathy and Kalb, 2013
None of 27 cases showed less speech after AAC was introduced, and 89% gained some speech The best-evidence studies in a 2006 review, mostly using signs or picture-based systems; gains were mostly modest. The research does not support the worry that AAC stops children talking. Millar, Light and Schlosser, 2006
66,695 children and young people were on NHS speech and language therapy waiting lists in England in April 2026 All children, not only autistic children. The government's target is for at least 80% of community health services activity to happen within 18 weeks by 2028/29. UK Parliament, July 2026
29,693 (45.6%) of 65,114 children waiting for community speech and language therapy had waited 12 weeks or more England, November 2024. House of Commons Library, January 2025
Regression, the loss of skills such as words, was reported in 32.1% of autistic children, at an average age of 1.78 years A 2013 review of 85 articles (older evidence; definitions vary). The figure was lower in population samples (21.8%) than in parent surveys (40.8%). Barger et al., 2013

Get help now: If your child loses words or other skills they used to have, see your GP promptly. NICE sets out referral routes for loss of language, social or movement skills (NICE CG128).

How common are co-occurring conditions?

Co-occurring conditions often happen alongside autism. Estimates vary with the age and type of sample: studies of people attending clinics usually give higher figures than population studies.

Figure What it means Source and date
ADHD about 28%, anxiety disorders about 20%, sleep-wake disorders 13% and depressive disorders 11% Pooled from 96 studies of autistic people of all ages. Lai et al., 2019
39.6% of autistic under-18s had at least one anxiety disorder 31 studies of 2,121 children and young people. The most common were specific phobia (29.8%), OCD (17.4%) and social anxiety (16.6%). van Steensel, Bögels and Perrin, 2011
Epilepsy in a median 12.1% of autistic people A review of 74 studies. Epilepsy was more common in autistic females. Lukmanji et al., 2019
39.6% of autistic 8-year-olds with IQ data had an intellectual disability US monitoring data for 2022, not a UK figure. About 6 in 10 did not have an intellectual disability. US CDC, April 2025
Sensory processing differences in between 53% and 95% of autistic people Exactly how many is not known; the range reflects different studies. National Autistic Society
Hyperacusis (reduced tolerance of everyday sounds) in about 41% at any one time, and about 61% at some point in life A 2021 review of 67 studies. Williams, Suzman and Woynaroski, 2021
3.86 times the odds of constipation, and 4.42 times the odds of gut problems in general Compared with other children, across 15 studies. Pain from gut problems can show up as a change in behaviour. McElhanon et al., 2014; NICE CG170
4.72 times the odds of a squint (strabismus) A review of 46 studies. Perna et al., 2023
Self-injury in about 42% of autistic people A review of 37 papers covering 14,379 people; hand-hitting was the most common form (23%). Steenfeldt-Kristensen, Jones and Richards, 2020
Children still waiting for mental health treatment at the end of 2023-24 had waited nearly six months on average, and almost a third over a year All children in England, not only autistic children. Children's Commissioner, May 2025

How common are sleep, eating and toileting difficulties?

Daily living difficulties are common, and most are more likely in autistic children than in other children.

Figure What it means Source and date
Most autistic children have sleep difficulties, and questionnaire studies report sleep complaints in up to 83.3% Getting to sleep is the most commonly reported problem. Richdale and Schreck, 2009; Ming et al.
32.8 minutes less sleep a day, and 10.9 minutes longer to fall asleep, on average Measured objectively in 10 studies. The difference was significant in children with an intellectual disability but small in others. Elrod and Hood, 2015
Weighted blankets did not increase total sleep time A UK trial of 67 children aged 5 to 16, although children and parents preferred the weighted blanket. Gringras et al., 2014
About five times the odds of feeding problems (odds ratio 5.11) 17 studies. Autistic children also had lower calcium and protein intake. Sharp et al., 2013
How many autistic children have ARFID is not yet known A 2022 review of 56 studies found ARFID-like eating is common in autistic children but could not say how common. Bourne, Mandy and Bryant-Waugh, 2022
Toileting resistance in 49.1% of autistic children aged 4 and over, compared with 8.0% of the general population A US study. In autistic children it was linked to constipation, delayed expressive language and low social motivation. Wiggins et al., 2022

NICE recommends a sleep plan and a 2-week sleep diary before any medicine is considered, and a specialist check if a child snores loudly, chokes or seems to stop breathing in their sleep (NICE CG170).

How often do autistic children wander or go missing?

We found no UK figures on wandering by autistic children. The best data come from the US.

Figure What it means Source and date
49% of autistic children had tried to leave a safe place at least once after age 4 A US survey of parents of 1,218 autistic children. 26% had gone missing long enough to cause concern. Anderson et al., 2012
Of the children who went missing, 24% were in danger of drowning and 65% in danger of traffic injury The same US survey. Anderson et al., 2012
32.7% to 37.7% of autistic children had wandered or become lost in the previous year A US national survey; rates were similar with or without an intellectual disability. Rice et al., 2016
Wandering came before 73.9% of 23 reported fatal drownings of autistic children aged 3 to 14 US newspaper reports, 2000 to May 2017. Most were in ponds, rivers or lakes, on average about 291 metres from home. Guan and Li, Injury Epidemiology, 2017
Drowning made up a far larger share of deaths among autistic people than in the general population US death records, 1999 to 2014 (proportionate mortality ratio 39.89). A university press release said autistic children were 160 times more likely to die from drowning; that figure is not in the published summary. Guan and Li, 2017; Columbia University, March 2017

Get help now: If a young or vulnerable child is missing, call 999 straight away. You do not have to wait 24 hours, and it is not wasting police time (Metropolitan Police).

How are parents and families affected?

Research shows real strain on many families, and also that stress and positive wellbeing can exist side by side.

Figure What it means Source and date
31% of parents of autistic children had a depressive disorder and 33% an anxiety disorder Median pooled figures from 31 studies of 9,208 parents; results varied widely between studies. Schnabel et al., 2020
Parents of autistic children reported more parenting stress than parents of typically developing children A meta-analysis of studies with comparison groups found a large difference. Hayes and Watson, 2013
Mothers' positive wellbeing was not affected In a population sample of 18,415 children aged 5 to 16, emotional difficulties were more common in mothers of autistic children, but positive mental health was not lower. Totsika et al., 2011
One extra hour of respite care a week was linked to better relationship quality between parents A study of 101 couples raising an autistic child; lower daily stress helped explain the link. Harper et al., 2013
77.3% of 225 parents of children with neurodevelopmental conditions wanted peer support Mostly because friends and family did not fully understand. 65.6% of those parents had found some, mostly informal. 2026 survey
Just over half of 1,047 UK parents were dissatisfied with the diagnostic process Support after diagnosis was also rated as unsatisfactory. Published in 2016. Crane et al., 2016
No increased risk of autistic children not living with both of their parents A US study of 77,911 parent interviews found no evidence for the often-quoted "80% divorce rate". A smaller study found a higher divorce rate (23.5% compared with 13.8%), so the strain is real. Freedman et al., 2012; Hartley et al., 2010
74% of siblings surveyed had not received any help from school as a sibling A Sibs survey of over 200 siblings aged 5 to 16. Sibs

If you are finding things hard, our where to get help page lists UK helplines and support, including services open 24 hours a day.

Why do different sources give different numbers?

Autism figures often seem to contradict each other. Usually they are measuring different things.

Reason Example
They count different things GP records count recorded diagnoses, Northern Ireland counts children identified in school records, the Department for Education records the main need on a plan (not a diagnosis), NHS England counts people waiting, and the WHO figure is a modelled estimate.
They cover different ages 10 to 14-year-olds in England, school-age children in Northern Ireland, 8-year-olds in the US, or people of all ages on NHS waiting lists.
They come from different places and years The US figure of 1 in 31 comes from 16 sites in 2022, with rates from 9.7 to 53.1 per 1,000 between sites (US CDC).
Recognition has changed over time Recorded new diagnoses rose 787% between 1998 and 2018, mostly because of better recognition (Russell et al.). One 2026 essay argues the threshold for diagnosis has also shifted (Frith); the National Autistic Society has challenged this (NAS).
Some data are still being developed NHS England's autism waiting figures are official statistics in development, and some providers' data are missing or new (NHS England Digital).
Definitions differ There is no agreed definition of minimally speaking (Koegel et al.), and estimates of the share of autistic people with profound autism range from 11% to 48% across six samples (Clarke et al.).
Research samples differ Clinic samples find more co-occurring conditions than population samples (Lai et al.), and parent reports of sleep problems are higher than objective measures show (Elrod and Hood).

How we keep these figures up to date

We check each official source when it publishes new data and update this page. The date at the top of the page shows when the figures were last checked. Research estimates, such as how many autistic children have ADHD, change only when new reviews are published.

Source How often it is published Next expected release
NHS England Digital, Autism Statistics (waiting figures for England) About every 3 months 12 November 2026 (October 2025 to September 2026)
Department for Education, Special educational needs in England Every year June 2027
Department for Education, Education, health and care plans Every year June 2027
Department of Health NI, autism prevalence in school-age children Every year (last published 14 May 2026) Not yet announced
Ministry of Justice, SEND Tribunal statistics Yearly figures, published in the December edition Expected December 2026, based on last year's timing (not a confirmed date)

Questions people ask

How many children in the UK are autistic?

There is no single, current UK figure. The National Autistic Society estimates that more than 1 in 100 people are autistic. Figures for children are higher: in GP records for 2018, 2.94% of 10 to 14-year-olds in England (about 1 in 34) had an autism diagnosis, and in 2025/26, 6.2% of school-age children in Northern Ireland (about 1 in 16) were identified as autistic. Figures differ because they count different things, and many autistic people have not been diagnosed.

Why are more children being diagnosed with autism now?

The number of new autism diagnoses recorded each year in UK GP records rose by 787% between 1998 and 2018, with the steepest rises in females and adults. The researchers concluded this was more likely to be due to more recognition and diagnosis than to more people being autistic. Some researchers argue the threshold for diagnosis has also shifted, but this is disputed. Autism is mostly genetic, and the NHS says it is not caused by vaccines or medicines.

How long is the wait for an autism assessment in the UK?

Waits are long in every nation and vary between areas. In England in June 2026, 294,792 people of all ages had an open referral for suspected autism, and 86.8% had waited 13 weeks or more, although NICE recommends starting an assessment within 3 months. These figures leave out community paediatric services, where many children are assessed. In Scotland, health boards' median waits for children averaged 76 weeks in March 2025. Northern Ireland had 17,205 children waiting in October 2025. In Wales in June 2023, 67% of children waiting for an ADHD or autism assessment had waited 26 weeks or more.

Are boys more likely to be autistic than girls?

Boys are diagnosed more often, but girls are often missed. A 2017 review of 54 studies found about 4 boys for every girl overall, but closer to 3 to 1 in the best-quality studies, which suggests a bias in who gets diagnosed. In Northern Ireland in 2025/26, boys were 2.3 times as likely as girls to be identified as autistic at school. The NHS says it can be harder to see some signs of autism in girls because of masking, and that boys can mask too.

How much does a private autism assessment cost in the UK?

On the websites of four providers we checked in September 2026, a self-funded autism assessment for a child cost from about £1,900 to £3,800 (the National Autistic Society's own service quotes £2,290 to £3,800). For comparison, NHS England's non-mandatory guide price for an NHS-funded child assessment in 2026/27 is £1,350. Before paying, check the team includes the professionals NICE recommends and that they are registered with the HCPC or GMC.

How many children have an EHCP for autism?

In January 2026 there were 718,838 EHC plans in England for children and young people aged 0 to 25, and autism was the most common primary need, recorded on 31.5% of them. Among school pupils with an EHC plan, 33.5% had autism as their primary need. The primary need is the main need recorded by the school or council, not a count of diagnoses, so these figures do not show how many autistic children there are.

Sources

Every fact in this guide links to one of these. We checked each link when we last updated the guide.

  1. Autism Statistics, July 2025 to June 2026 NHS England Digital, 13 August 2026
  2. Autism Statistics, April 2025 to March 2026 NHS England Digital, 14 May 2026
  3. Autism Statistics (series page and release calendar) NHS England Digital, August 2026
  4. Special educational needs in England: academic year 2025/26 Department for Education, 30 June 2026
  5. Education, health and care plans: reporting year 2026 Department for Education, 17 September 2026
  6. Tribunal Statistics Quarterly: July to September 2025 (section 9, SEND) Ministry of Justice, 11 December 2025
  7. Prevalence of autism (including Asperger's syndrome) in school age children in Northern Ireland: annual report 2026 Department of Health (Northern Ireland), 14 May 2026
  8. What is autism National Autistic Society
  9. What is autism? NHS, 6 May 2026
  10. Bai et al. 2019: heritability of autism in a five-country cohort JAMA Psychiatry (PubMed record), October 2019
  11. O'Nions et al. 2023: diagnosed and undiagnosed autism in England's primary care records The Lancet Regional Health: Europe (PubMed record), 3 April 2023
  12. Russell et al. 2022: time trends in autism diagnosis in UK primary care, 1998 to 2018 Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (PubMed record), 2022
  13. SPICe research briefing on neurodevelopmental assessment waits in Scotland (24 June 2025) Scottish Parliament Information Centre, 24 June 2025
  14. Autism fact sheet World Health Organization, 17 September 2025
  15. Global epidemiology and health burden of the autism spectrum: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2025
  16. Shaw et al. 2025: prevalence of autism among 8-year-olds, ADDM Network, 2022 data MMWR Surveillance Summaries, US CDC (PubMed record), 17 April 2025
  17. ADDM Network Community Report, surveillance year 2022 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, April 2025
  18. Loomes, Hull and Mandy 2017: male-to-female ratio in autism, a meta-analysis Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (PubMed record), June 2017
  19. Signs of autism in children NHS, 6 May 2026
  20. Lockwood Estrin et al. 2021: barriers to autism diagnosis for girls and women Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (PubMed record), 2021
  21. Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: recognition, referral and diagnosis (CG128) NICE, December 2017
  22. Report on children waiting for autism assessment, 2022-23 data (18 October 2024) Children's Commissioner for England, 18 October 2024
  23. The growing demand for ADHD and autism assessments in Wales Senedd Research, 7 November 2024
  24. Written statement: transforming neurodivergence services Welsh Government, 27 June 2025
  25. Autism in NI: are over 17,000 children on the waiting list for an assessment? FactCheckNI, 21 November 2025
  26. Autism assessment waiting times, June 2026 National Autistic Society, 13 August 2026
  27. Right to Choose pauses for ADHD and autism assessments in 9 NHS areas Special Needs Jungle, 6 January 2026
  28. Written question 902: autism and ADHD assessments UK Parliament, 22 May 2026
  29. Crane et al. 2016: parents' experiences of autism diagnosis in the UK Autism (PubMed record), 2016
  30. 2026/27 NHS Payment Scheme: ADHD and autism diagnostic assessment services payment guidance NHS England, March 2026
  31. Diagnostic and Assessment Service National Autistic Society
  32. Private autism assessments for children Clinical Partners
  33. Fees and funding Acorn Autism Specialists
  34. Pricing Autism 360, 10 September 2026
  35. A national framework to deliver improved outcomes in all-age autism assessment pathways NHS England, April 2023
  36. How to request an autism assessment National Autistic Society
  37. The myth of needing a diagnosis before you can get support IPSEA, 25 April 2025
  38. Brignell et al. 2018: communication interventions for minimally verbal autistic children Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018
  39. Tager-Flusberg and Kasari 2013: minimally verbal school-aged children with autism Autism Research, 2013
  40. Wodka, Mathy and Kalb 2013: predictors of phrase and fluent speech in autistic children Pediatrics, 2013
  41. Millar, Light and Schlosser 2006: the impact of AAC on speech production Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (PubMed record), 2006
  42. Written question 11799: speech and language therapy waiting lists UK Parliament, 1 July 2026
  43. Debate pack CDP-2025-0010 for the e-petition 657935 debate, 27 January 2025 House of Commons Library, January 2025
  44. Barger et al. 2013: prevalence and onset of regression in autism, a meta-analysis Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (PubMed record), 2013
  45. Lai et al. 2019: prevalence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses in the autism population The Lancet Psychiatry (Europe PMC record), 2019
  46. van Steensel, Bögels and Perrin 2011: anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with autism Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 2011
  47. Lukmanji et al. 2019: the co-occurrence of epilepsy and autism, a systematic review Epilepsy & Behavior (Europe PMC record), 2019
  48. Autism and sensory processing National Autistic Society
  49. Williams, Suzman and Woynaroski 2021: prevalence of decreased sound tolerance in autism Ear and Hearing, 2021
  50. McElhanon et al. 2014: gastrointestinal problems in autism, a meta-analysis Pediatrics (Europe PMC record), 2014
  51. Perna et al. 2023: vision differences in autism, a meta-analysis Molecular Psychiatry (Europe PMC record), 2023
  52. Steenfeldt-Kristensen, Jones and Richards 2020: self-injurious behaviour in autism, a meta-analysis Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2020
  53. Children's mental health services 2023-24 Children's Commissioner for England, 18 May 2025
  54. Richdale and Schreck 2009: sleep problems in autism Sleep Medicine Reviews (Europe PMC record), 2009
  55. Ming et al.: sleep complaints in autistic children Europe PMC record
  56. Elrod and Hood 2015: objectively measured sleep in autistic children, a meta-analysis Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (Europe PMC record), 2015
  57. Gringras et al. 2014: weighted blankets and sleep in autistic children, a randomised trial Pediatrics (Europe PMC record), 2014
  58. Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: support and management (CG170) NICE, June 2021
  59. Sharp et al. 2013: feeding problems and nutrient intake in autism, a meta-analysis Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (Europe PMC record), 2013
  60. Bourne, Mandy and Bryant-Waugh 2022: ARFID and autism, a scoping review Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology (Europe PMC record), 2022
  61. Wiggins et al. 2022: toileting resistance in autistic children Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (Europe PMC record), 2022
  62. Anderson et al. 2012: occurrence and family impact of elopement in children with autism Pediatrics (Europe PMC record), 2012
  63. Rice et al. 2016: wandering among children with autism, US national survey Journal of Pediatrics (Europe PMC record), 2016
  64. Guan and Li 2017: injury mortality in individuals with autism American Journal of Public Health (Europe PMC record), 2017
  65. Individuals with autism at substantially heightened risk for injury death Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 21 March 2017
  66. Guan and Li 2017: characteristics of fatal drownings of children with autism Injury Epidemiology (Europe PMC record), 2017
  67. What to do when someone goes missing Metropolitan Police
  68. Schnabel et al. 2020: psychopathology in parents of autistic children, a meta-analysis Autism (PubMed record), 2020
  69. Hayes and Watson 2013: parenting stress in parents of autistic children, a meta-analysis Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (PubMed record), 2013
  70. Totsika et al. 2011: maternal wellbeing in families of children with autism or intellectual disability Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (PubMed record), 2011
  71. Harper et al. 2013: respite care, stress and relationship quality in parents of autistic children Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (PubMed record), 2013
  72. Peer support needs of parents of children with neurodevelopmental conditions (2026 survey) Child: Care, Health and Development (PubMed record), 2026
  73. Freedman et al. 2012: relationship status among parents of children with autism Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (PubMed record), 2012
  74. Hartley et al. 2010: divorce in parents of children with autism Journal of Family Psychology (PubMed record), 2010
  75. If Only You Knew: siblings' survey Sibs
  76. Frith 2026: essay on the broadening of the autism diagnosis Psychological Medicine (PubMed record), 4 August 2026
  77. Our response to Professor Dame Uta Frith's new paper National Autistic Society, 4 August 2026
  78. Clarke et al. 2024: profound autism across six samples Frontiers in Psychiatry (PubMed record), 2024
  79. Koegel et al. 2020: how autism research defines minimally verbal children, a systematic review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2020