A landmark synthesis of data covering more than 21 million children across six continents suggests that roughly one in every 130 children worldwide lives with autism spectrum disorder — a figure that likely understates the true scale, particularly in nations where screening is sparse and specialists are few. The disparity between wealthy and lower-income countries does not reflect a difference in how many children are affected, but rather a difference in how many are seen. What is unmeasured goes unmet, and the children who fall outside the count often spend their most formative years without
Global study of 21M children reveals autism support gaps in low- and middle-income nations
Children with undiagnosed or late-diagnosed autism miss early access to critical support services including speech therapy, behavioral support, and educational planning during key developmental periods.