Autism diagnoses in England have risen to record highs, with more than 20,000 people told they have the disorder in the past year.
The figure is a jump of around 52 per cent since this time last year, according to new NHS data.
A further 300,000 people in England are awaiting an assessment for suspected autism – four times the number in 2021.
More than half of the new diagnoses are in children, the data shows.
The striking figures follow a recent warning from autism research pioneer Professor Dame Uta Frith that many people diagnosed with the disorder may not actually have it.
In a damning paper published in the journal Psychological Medicine, the expert said ‘anyone’ can have autism nowadays, adding it has become a ‘catch all’ diagnosis for other psychological problems.
The definition of autism has become ‘too broad’ as a result of ‘misleading’ ideas spread on social media, she said.
Earlier this week popstar Robbie Williams became the latest of a series of celebrities to disclose his diagnosis of autism – which causes problems with development and learning.
Robbie Williams revealed he was diagnosed with autism, exclusively reported by the Daily Mail
Speaking during a Q&A at the Autumn/Winter launch of his clothing brand Hopeium at Flannels, Robbie said he has ‘a little bit of autism’ and uses the disorder as a ‘get out of jail free card’.
Autism is currently diagnosed in around 700,000 Britons.
In 2021, researchers found that diagnoses had increased by a startling 787 per cent in the UK between 1998 and 2018, which some experts have argued is due to better awareness and understanding.
The Daily Mail’s interactive graphic (below) reveals which NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) – bodies responsible for the health service in a local area – have made the most diagnoses over the last year.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB led the way with 4,470 patients diagnosed between June 2025 and June 2026.
That’s nearly a quarter of the total across England, and more than double the 2,220 patients at NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB, which recorded the second most over the same time period.
The statistics, released by NHS England, show those who receive a diagnosis after being referred to a specialist.
The figures also show a large rise in monthly diagnoses, from year to year.
Some 1,375 patients were diagnosed with autism in June 2025, compared to 3,145 this June.
Meanwhile, just 370 diagnoses were made in June 2021.
The data also revealed that under 18s are driving the surge.
Some 5,755 under 10s were diagnosed between June 2025 and June 2026, a figure that rose to 6,280 among 10 to 17-year-olds over the same period.
The new data shows that a total of 294,792 patients currently have a referral for suspected autism, and are waiting to see a specialist.
That’s a jump of more than 30,000 since last June and around 80,000 since June 2024.
It is also an increase of almost five times since June 2021, when there were 68,690 referrals.
The figure of 294,792 could be far higher because The Owl Centre, which provides autism assessment services in the UK, did not submit data for June.
In May, 310,794 adults had a referral.
According to Prof Dame Uta Frith, who authored pioneering autism research in the 1960s and 70s: ‘When [autism] was first identified in the 1940s, it referred to a small group of children with severe difficulties in social interaction, communication and behaviour.
‘Over time, the definition has widened to include people with milder traits and no language or learning problems.
‘Today, anyone of any age or intelligence level can be diagnosed with autism if they meet certain criteria.’
Professor Dame Uta Frith warned last week that ‘anyone… can be diagnosed with autism’
Autism is a lifelong disability that influences how people experience and interact with the world, and causes problems with communicating, socialising and learning.
Some people also have a learning disability, and those with the disorder are at higher risk of a range of physical and mental health conditions including epilepsy, eating disorders and anxiety.
Charities now describe autism as a ‘neurodivergence’ rather than a developmental problem.
But Professor Frith said this further fuels misunderstandings.
‘While this helps reduce stigma, it also creates tension,’ she said. ‘If autism is not a disorder, why use a medical diagnosis?’
She also blamed social media for ‘spreading simplified ideas’ about autism.
The diagnosis, Prof Frith said, has ‘become part of popular culture’.
‘Social media, films, and online communities have helped people share experiences, but they have also spread simplified or misleading ideas.’
Prof Frith has called for medical professionals to identify other psychological problems that may be at play, and treat patients appropriately.
‘There are ways to reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorder and depression,’ she continued.
‘There are also ways to build resilience in the face of significant social stress.’
She added that these approaches would not be appropriate for autism diagnosed in childhood.
It’s estimated that around 3 per cent of UK children have autism.
Early signs include avoiding eye contact, not responding to their name, repetitive movements and reduced engagement in play, according to the NHS.
Reacting to Prof Frith’s comments, Mel Merritt, head of policy and influencing at the National Autistic Society, said: ‘Autism is understood as a spectrum. As the article points out, in the past people thought the spectrum was a straight line between ‘more’ and ‘less’ autistic, but this isn’t right.
‘Today we understand the spectrum to mean each autistic person has a unique combination of characteristics.
‘Terms such as milder traits may be misleading or unhelpful in reflecting the difficulties and impact of navigating daily life for so many.
‘Autistic people can be very different to one another, each with a unique set of strengths and challenges. This should not take away from or “neglect” people with high levels of support needs.
‘Autistic people need better access to quality autism assessments and tailored support.
‘The real debate about autistic people is how to address the chronic inequalities they face. It is unhelpful and a false choice to pit autistic people against each other – getting the right support early and better understanding makes a big difference to all autistic people.’
NHS England said the figures ‘should be interpreted with caution as Data Quality issues may be present’.
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