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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Autism diagnoses among school-aged children in England surged from 1.5% to 3.3% between 2016 and 2024, with the sharpest rise seen in girls. The male-to-female ratio narrowed significantly, and more children are now presenting with social, emotional, and mental health needs alongside autism. Experts say healthcare and education systems need to urgently adapt to this growing population.
Autism is being identified at record rates among school-aged children in England. A large-scale analysis of school census data covering roughly 8–8.5 million children annually found that recorded autism prevalence more than doubled from 1.5% in 2016 to 3.3% in 2024 — a trend driven largely by a dramatic rise in identification among girls and a shift in the types of co-occurring needs being recorded.
The gender gap is narrowing fast. While autism rates nearly doubled among boys (2.1% to 4.0%), they rose nearly fourfold among girls (0.4% to 1.5%), bringing the male-to-female ratio down from 4.9:1 to 2.8:1. The sharpest increases were seen during the transition from primary to secondary school (Year 7), suggesting that new social and academic demands may be prompting more identifications.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: As autism records are a leading indicator of future demand on NHS and other services, the findings signal an urgent need to plan and adapt healthcare, higher education, and workplace settings to support a broader and more diverse autistic population.
