Autism Rates by Country 2022

When it comes to autism is a brain-related illness that is both neurological and developmental. Autism affects how people perceive and interact with one another and the environment in which they live.

Early signs of autism may be seen in the early years of a child’s life. People with autism have a variety of symptoms that make it difficult for them to form social connections and communicate effectively with others. 

Autistic traits include poor motor skills, repetitive behavior; speech delay; difficulty thinking; restricted interests; and challenges in social relationships and communication. There are various degrees of autism (such as a diminished ability to detect social cues).

In recent years, the number of people diagnosed with autism has increased. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in the United States, one kid in every 44 was diagnosed with autism in 2018.

Rates in Scientific American for 2016 (1 in 68, while some sources suggest an even higher incidence of 1 in 54 by age 8), 2008 (1 in 88), and 2000 were all much higher than this new estimate (1 in 150). 

Autism still has no single cause, but early detection is critical for better results. There is no cure for autism, but there are ways to manage the symptoms, which tend to diminish with time.

For persons of all ages in every country, the Global Health Data Exchange produced statistics on the prevalence of autism. Europe’s industrialized nations have the lowest incidence of autism.

There were 69.3 cases of autism per 10,000 persons in France or 1 in 144 people. After Portugal, the rate was 70.5 per 10,000 people or one in 142.”

Top 10 countries with the lowest autism prevalence rates:

On the other end of the scale:

More than 100 per 10,000 people in these five Autism Rates.

• Qatar — 151.2 per 10,000 (1 in 66)
• United Arab Emirates — 112.4 per 10,000 (1 in 89)
• Oman — 107.2 per 10,000 (1 in 93)
• Bahrain — 103.3 per 10,000 (1 in 97)
• Saudi Arabia — 100.7 per 10,000 (1 in 99)

The difficulties of calculating and comparing global rates of autism

For a variety of reasons, keeping tabs on global rates of autism is a difficult undertaking. There are no universal standards for diagnosing and evaluating autistic individuals.

A blood test, a brain scan, or any other kind of objective examination will not reveal the truth. It must be identified by clinical observation of a person’s conduct.

Even if there were a simple yes or no test, many countries lack the means to perform such an examination. Thirdly, many countries don’t keep track of or disclose their rates of autism.

Autism and the anti-vax movement

Under Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s direction, researchers said in a study published in 1998 that the MMR vaccination was linked to an increased incidence of autism.

Although the paper’s publisher withdrew it after receiving criticism for its faulty research, the theory that vaccinations cause autism had already gained traction. Until the end of April 2022, there had been no credible, peer-reviewed evidence suggesting such a connection was there.

Also See: Alcoholism by Country 2022

List of 10 countries where autism is most prevalent:

1. Qatar (151.20 per 10k children)
2. United Arab Emirates (112.40 per 10k children)
3. Oman (107.20 per 10k children)
4. Bahrain (103.30 per 10k children)
5. Saudi Arabia (100.70 per 10k children)
6. Kuwait (97.70 per 10k children)
7. Jordan (92.10 per 10k children)
8. Syria (91.90 per 10k children)
9. Afghanistan (91.20 per 10k children)
10. Palestine (91 per 10k children)