RISP Infographics

People with IDD in the United States

8.56 million people in the United States had an intellectual and/or developmental disability in 2021. Of that:

  • 3.69 million children had a developmental delay (but not intellectual disability or ASD autism spectrum disorder)
  • 2.62 million children had an intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or both
    • 25% of children were known to state IDD agencies
  • 2.25 million adults had an intellectual and/or developmental disability
    • 45% of adults were known to state IDD agencies

There were 8.56 million people with an intellectual or developmental disability in the United States in 2021. Of those, 25% of children and 45% of adults were known to their state developmental disabilities agency.

Note: US prevalence estimates for adults are from 1994/95 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Disability Supplement. Prevalence (Larson, et al., 2001). Estimates for children are from the 2020 NHIS (Zablotsky et al., 2023).

Source for child prevalence rates

Zablotsky B, Ng AE, Black LI, Blumberg SJ. Diagnosed developmental disabilities in children aged 3–17 years: United States, 2019–2021. NCHS Data Brief, no 473. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2023. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:129520 .

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For more information about RISP, contact: risp@umn.edu

Cite as: Residential Information Systems Project (year). [Page Name]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, RISP, Research and Training Center on Community Living, Institute on Community Integration. Retrieved from: https://risp.umn.edu.)