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w?a=3DSH8aQb&c=3D01HNNHDGTEJ2BJ6C7JQAY9GT07&k=3D952f0d793cdd333338b2b6efda3=
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[USAFacts]([link removed])
Are autism cases increasing?=C2=A0
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Autism S=
pectrum Disorder is a developmental condition that can affect social skills=
, communication, and behavior. Because it=E2=80=99s a spectrum, experiences=
vary widely =E2=80=94 some people are nonverbal and need daily support, wh=
ile others have advanced conversational skills and live independently.
[USAFacts]([link removed])
Autism=E2=80=99s been getting a lot of news attention lately, but [here are=
the numbers]([link removed]) behind t=
he headlines.
[Combined prevalence of autism spectrum disorder per 1,000 8-year-old child=
ren]([link removed])
- In 2022, 32 out of 1,000 monitored 8-year-olds were diagnosed with autism=
. In other words, that=E2=80=99s 3.2%, which was up from 1.5% in 2010 and 0=
.7% in 2000.
- Boys are more than three times more likely to be diagnosed with autism th=
an girls. In 2022, 4.9% of 8-year-old boys had autism, compared to 1.4% of =
8-year-old girls.
- As diagnostic tools improve and doctors track developmental differences m=
ore closely, doctors are diagnosing more and more children nationwide. The =
CDC says it=E2=80=99s unclear how much the increase can be attributed to ch=
anges to the clinical definition of autism, or increased efforts to diagnos=
e.
- Autism is being diagnosed earlier, too. Children born in 2018 were 1.7 ti=
mes more likely to be diagnosed by age 4 than those born in 2014.
- The CDC collected this data in 2022, the most recent report year, by trac=
king 274,857 children at 16 sites in 14 states and Puerto Rico. The prevale=
nce of autism varied by site. The CDC defines =E2=80=9Cprevalence=E2=80=9D =
as the number of people in a set population that have a condition. Combined=
prevalence includes data across all sites.
[See the data]([link removed])
[USAFacts]([link removed])
How the government measures poverty=C2=A0
The federal poverty level is a cornerstone of how social programs work. The=
se guidelines determine eligibility for programs like Medicaid and CHIP. We=
dug through Census Bureau data to [break down the ins and outs]([link removed]
afacts.org/explainers/what-is-the-federal-poverty-level/country/united-stat=
es/) of the federal poverty level. Here=E2=80=99s what you need to know.=C2=
=A0
- The federal poverty level depends on the size of a family or household, t=
he number of children in that household, and whether someone is 65 or older=
in one- or two-person households.=E2=80=AFSee all the values used in 2024 =
[here]([link removed]
untry/united-states/).
- In 2025, the level was $15,650 for a single-person household, $32,150 for=
a family of four, and $54,150 for a family of eight. The level increases b=
y roughly $5,500 for each additional person.
- The poverty level helps determine eligibility for federal assistance prog=
rams to support low-income individuals and families, including [SNAP](https=
://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-people-receive-snap-benefits-in-the-us-eve=
ry-month/country/united-states/), the National School Lunch Program, and He=
ad Start.
- The poverty level is based on more granular poverty thresholds, which are=
used for calculating national poverty statistics. The thresholds break hou=
seholds down further by family structure, while the poverty level is simpli=
fied into the size of the household.=C2=A0
[Poverty thresholds by family type and number of children]([link removed]
.org/explainers/what-is-the-federal-poverty-level/country/united-states/)
[See the data]([link removed]
level/country/united-states/)
[USAFacts]([link removed])
A note on data during the shutdown
When the government shuts down, its activities are divided into what=E2=80=
=99s commonly called =E2=80=9Cessential=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Cnonessential.=
=E2=80=9D =C2=A0
Essential components related to data include IT infrastructure maintenance,=
some internal reporting on essential activities, and reporting on emergenc=
ies. But generally, data is not considered an essential function and agenci=
es stop reporting most statistics. =C2=A0
This includes [the Census Bureau]([link removed]
-the-us-government-do/subagency/bureau-of-the-census/), which said it=E2=80=
=99s pausing collecting some economic and disaster-related data. It also in=
cludes=C2=A0[the Bureau of Economic Analysis]([link removed]
rs/what-does-the-us-government-do/subagency/bureau-of-economic-analysis/), =
which suspended reporting on key indicators such as gross domestic product =
and personal income. =C2=A0
We=E2=80=99re working on bringing you more information at [USAFacts.org](ht=
tp://www.USAFacts.org) soon.
[USAFacts]([link removed])
[USAFacts]([link removed])
Data behind the news
The federal government shut down on October 1 while Congress failed to agre=
e on a continuing resolution to fund the government. [Get answers]([link removed]
usafacts.org/articles/government-shutdown-2025-what-to-know) to some of the=
most-asked questions about government shutdowns.
During the shutdown, some agencies with high percentages of furloughed empl=
oyees include the [Environmental Protection Agency]([link removed]
plainers/what-does-the-us-government-do/agency/environmental-protection-age=
ncy/) and [the Commerce Department]([link removed]
es-the-us-government-do/agency/us-department-of-commerce/). You can also us=
e these pages to explore over 100 other federal agencies. =C2=A0
Last week, two regional jets collided at low speeds on the taxiway at New Y=
ork=E2=80=99s LaGuardia Airport in New York. No one was killed. We have the=
safety data on [flying versus driving]([link removed]
ying-safer-than-driving/).
Are you up to date on USAFacts articles? Then test yourself with the [weekl=
y fact quiz]([link removed]). =C2=A0=C2=A0
[USAFacts]([link removed])
One last fact
[How many times has the government shut down?]([link removed]
s/everything-you-need-to-know-about-a-government-shutdown/)
The current shutdown notwithstanding, [the federal government has had 10 sh=
utdowns]([link removed]
government-shutdown/) of various lengths since 1976. The shortest shutdowns=
have lasted a day; there were several of those in the 1980s. The longest w=
as in 2019, lasting for more than a month: 34 days.
This one? Six days. And counting.=C2=A0
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