In recent years, cases of autism have risen. The Center for Disease Control announced in 2021 that the rate of autism in the U.S. during 2018 was 1 child in 44. This is a notable rise from rates given in Scientific American, for 2016 (1 in 68, though other sources claim an even-higher 1 in 54 by age 8), 2008 (1 in 88) and 2000 (1 in 150). Moreover, this trend of rising autism, which dates back to the early 1990s, is a global occurrence not confined to the United States. Prevailing theories suggest that the rise is largely due to increased awareness and diagnosis of autism rather than a massive increase in overall occurrences of autism. However, autism is more likely in babies with older parents, who are more common in today’s world, and in babies born prematurely, who survive more often now than in previous eras.
No single cause of autism has been identified, but early diagnosis is key to improved outcomes. Although there is no cure for autism, symptoms can be managed, and often fade slightly during adulthood, though they do not disappear entirely. The Global Health Data Exchange compiled the autism rates for all countries worldwide for people of any age. The countries with the lowest autism rates were developed countries in Europe. France had the lowest autism rates of 69.3 per 10,000 people or 1 in 144 people. Portugal followed with 70.5 per 10,000 or 1 in 142.
Source: World Population Review