(UK) Northern Ireland: 5.9% of schoolchildren have autism
- The end of childhood
- May 16
- 2 min read
May 15, 2025, Down News: Report Published On Extent Of Autism in NI School Ages
Publication of ‘The Prevalence of Autism (including Aspergers Syndrome) in School Age Children in Northern Ireland. Annual report 2025’
The Department of Health has today published ‘The Prevalence of Autism (including Aspergers Syndrome) in School age Children in Northern Ireland. Annual report 2025’.
These figures have been extracted from the Northern Ireland School Census provided by the Department of Education.
The Department of Education for NI has published its annual stats into the level of autism and aspergers syndrome in school age children in Northern Ireland. It shows that there is a greater prevalence in deprived areas.
Key Facts and Figures:
The estimated prevalence of autism within the school aged population in Northern Ireland was 5.9% in 2024/25.
There was a marked difference in the prevalence rates of autism between the sexes, with males 2.5 times more likely to be identified with autism than females.
The Northern Ireland urban population has a statistically significant higher prevalence rate of autism than the rural population.
Using the NI Multiple Deprivation Measure (MDM) ranking, in 2024/25 the rate of autism in the most deprived MDM areas was 38% higher than the Northern Ireland average showing that there is a link between deprivation a autism prevalence.
In 2024/25, 18% of children diagnosed with autism did not have any special educational needs, and 63% were classified at Stage 3 of the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Assessment, indicating they had a Statement of SEN.
This information was collated by Community Information Branch within the Department of Health.
This statistical release of The Prevalence of Autism (including Aspergers Syndrome) in School Age Children in Northern Ireland is published on a yearly basis. . . .
Similar statistics relating to the year 2025/26 are due for release in May 2026.
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