Important: This is a statistical reference, not a diagnostic tool or medical advice. ADHD can only be diagnosed by a qualified health professional after a full evaluation. Survey estimates below are labeled with their source year and population because they are not interchangeable.
Quick takeaways
In the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health, 11.4% of U.S. children ages 3–17 had ever received an ADHD diagnosis and 10.5% had current ADHD.[S1]
In a separate 2023 CDC adult survey, 6.0% of U.S. adults—about 15.5 million people—reported a current ADHD diagnosis.[S4]
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Statistics about diagnosis, treatment, and co-occurring conditions describe populations. They cannot determine whether a particular person has ADHD or which support will help them.[S1][S3]
What the numbers mean before you use them
The child figures in facts 11–103 come from a parent-reported, nationally representative 2022 survey of U.S. children ages 3–17. The adult figures in facts 104–110 come from a different CDC survey fielded in October–November 2023. A reported diagnosis is not the same measure as symptoms in a screening questionnaire, and differences between groups do not explain why any individual has ADHD.[S1][S4]
110 ADHD facts and statistics
ADHD basics
ADHD is a developmental disorder marked by persistent symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.[S3]
Some people primarily experience inattention symptoms.[S3]
Some people primarily experience hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.[S3]
Some people experience symptoms in both areas.[S3]
Symptoms begin in childhood, although a person may be diagnosed later.[S3]
For diagnosis, symptoms must have begun before age 12.[S3]
Children through age 16 must show at least six symptoms in the relevant diagnostic category or categories.[S3]
People age 17 and older must show at least five symptoms in the relevant diagnostic category or categories.[S3]
Symptoms must interfere with functioning in more than one setting for an ADHD diagnosis.[S3]
Sleep problems, stress, anxiety, depression, and some physical conditions can cause symptoms that resemble ADHD, which is why a full evaluation matters.[S3]
U.S. child diagnosis: national and demographic estimates: The 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health analysis included 45,169 U.S. children ages 3–17.[S1]
In that survey, 11.4% of U.S. children ages 3–17 had ever received an ADHD diagnosis.[S1]
That 11.4% represented about 7.1 million children.[S1]
In 2022, 10.5% of U.S. children ages 3–17 had current ADHD.[S1]
That current-ADHD estimate represented about 6.5 million children.[S1]
Among children who had ever received an ADHD diagnosis, 92.6% were reported to currently have ADHD.[S1]
Among children ages 3–5, 2.4% had ever received an ADHD diagnosis.[S1]
That 2.4% represented about 274,000 children ages 3–5.[S1]
Among children ages 6–11, 11.5% had ever received an ADHD diagnosis.[S1]
That 11.5% represented about 2.8 million children ages 6–11.[S1]
Among adolescents ages 12–17, 15.5% had ever received an ADHD diagnosis.[S1]
That 15.5% represented about 4.0 million adolescents ages 12–17.[S1]
In 2022, 14.7% of boys ages 3–17 had ever received an ADHD diagnosis.[S1]
In the same survey, 8.1% of girls ages 3–17 had ever received an ADHD diagnosis.[S1]
Current ADHD was reported for 13.3% of boys ages 3–17.[S1]
Current ADHD was reported for 7.5% of girls ages 3–17.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 11.9% of White children in the survey.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 11.7% of Black children in the survey.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 10.3% of American Indian/Alaska Native children in the survey.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 4.0% of Asian children in the survey.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 12.9% of children identifying with two or more races in the survey.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 9.5% of Hispanic/Latino children in the survey.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 12.2% of non-Hispanic/Latino children in the survey.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 12.5% of children in households where English was the primary language.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 5.4% of children in households where another language was primary.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 13.6% of children in households below the federal poverty level.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 10.3% of children in households at or above 200% of the federal poverty level.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 14.2% of children with public insurance only.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 9.8% of children with private insurance only.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 16.9% of children with both public and private insurance.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 11.2% of children in the Northeast.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 11.1% of children in the Midwest.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 13.5% of children in the South.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 8.6% of children in the West.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 12.9% of children in rural areas.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 11.9% of children in suburban areas.[S1]
Ever-diagnosed ADHD was reported for 10.1% of children in urban areas.[S1]
Reported ADHD severity among children with current ADHD: Among children with current ADHD, 41.9% had parent-reported mild ADHD.[S1]
Among children with current ADHD, 45.3% had parent-reported moderate ADHD.[S1]
Among children with current ADHD, 12.8% had parent-reported severe ADHD.[S1]
Together, the moderate and severe categories accounted for 58.1% of children with current ADHD.[S1]
Among children ages 3–5 with current ADHD, 33.0% had parent-reported mild ADHD.[S1]
Among children ages 3–5 with current ADHD, 53.3% had parent-reported moderate ADHD.[S1]
Among children ages 3–5 with current ADHD, 13.6% had parent-reported severe ADHD.[S1]
Among adolescents ages 12–17 with current ADHD, 44.8% had parent-reported mild ADHD.[S1]
Among adolescents ages 12–17 with current ADHD, 44.6% had parent-reported moderate ADHD.[S1]
Among adolescents ages 12–17 with current ADHD, 10.6% had parent-reported severe ADHD.[S1]
Among children ages 6–11 with current ADHD, 15.6% had parent-reported severe ADHD.[S1]
Among children with current ADHD and public insurance only, 20.4% had parent-reported severe ADHD.[S1]
Among children with current ADHD and private insurance only, 6.9% had parent-reported severe ADHD.[S1]
Among children with current ADHD in households below the federal poverty level, 19.3% had parent-reported severe ADHD.[S1]
Co-occurring conditions in the 2022 child survey: In the 2022 survey, 77.9% of children with current ADHD had at least one current co-occurring mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder.[S1]
In the same group, 63.6% had a co-occurring mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder.[S1]
In the same group, 46.3% had a co-occurring developmental, learning, or language disorder.[S1]
About 51.0% of children with current ADHD had two or more co-occurring disorders included in the survey.[S1]
Behavioral or conduct problems were reported for 44.1% of children with current ADHD.[S1]
Anxiety was reported for 39.1% of children with current ADHD.[S1]
Depression was reported for 18.9% of children with current ADHD.[S1]
Tourette syndrome was reported for 1.0% of children with current ADHD.[S1]
A learning disability was reported for 36.5% of children with current ADHD.[S1]
Developmental delay was reported for 21.7% of children with current ADHD.[S1]
A speech or language disorder was reported for 14.8% of children with current ADHD.[S1]
Autism spectrum disorder was reported for 14.4% of children with current ADHD.[S1]
Intellectual disability was reported for 4.4% of children with current ADHD.[S1]
At least one co-occurring disorder was reported for 75.9% of boys with current ADHD.[S1]
At least one co-occurring disorder was reported for 81.7% of girls with current ADHD.[S1]
Behavioral or conduct problems were reported for 48.1% of boys with current ADHD.[S1]
Behavioral or conduct problems were reported for 36.6% of girls with current ADHD.[S1]
Anxiety was reported for 31.7% of boys with current ADHD.[S1]
Anxiety was reported for 52.8% of girls with current ADHD.[S1]
Depression was reported for 13.8% of boys with current ADHD.[S1]
Depression was reported for 28.6% of girls with current ADHD.[S1]
Anxiety was reported for 43.3% of adolescents with current ADHD.[S1]
Depression was reported for 26.3% of adolescents with current ADHD.[S1]
Developmental delay was reported for 55.8% of children ages 3–5 with current ADHD.[S1]
A speech or language disorder was reported for 46.6% of children ages 3–5 with current ADHD.[S1]
Autism spectrum disorder was reported for 34.7% of children ages 3–5 with current ADHD.[S1]
ADHD treatment reported for U.S. children: In 2022, 53.6% of children ages 3–17 with current ADHD were currently taking ADHD medication.[S1]
That medication estimate represented about 3.4 million children.[S1]
In 2022, 44.4% of children with current ADHD had received behavioral treatment for ADHD in the previous 12 months.[S1]
That behavioral-treatment estimate represented about 2.8 million children.[S1]
When behavioral treatment for ADHD and any mental-health counseling were combined, 58.3% of children with current ADHD had received one or both in the previous 12 months.[S1]
Among children ages 3–5 with current ADHD, 23.6% were currently taking ADHD medication.[S1]
Among children ages 6–11 with current ADHD, 56.9% were currently taking ADHD medication.[S1]
Among adolescents ages 12–17 with current ADHD, 53.4% were currently taking ADHD medication.[S1]
Among children ages 3–5 with current ADHD, 51.5% had received behavioral treatment for ADHD in the past year.[S1]
Among children ages 6–11 with current ADHD, 48.2% had received behavioral treatment for ADHD in the past year.[S1]
Among adolescents ages 12–17 with current ADHD, 41.0% had received behavioral treatment for ADHD in the past year.[S1]
Among children with current ADHD, 28.2% received both medication and behavioral treatment for ADHD.[S1]
Among children with current ADHD, 25.5% received medication only.[S1]
Among children with current ADHD, 16.2% received behavioral treatment for ADHD only.[S1]
Among children with current ADHD, 30.1% received neither medication nor behavioral treatment for ADHD.[S1]
That “neither” estimate represented about 1.9 million children.[S1]
Adult ADHD: a separate 2023 CDC survey: In a 2023 CDC survey, 6.0% of U.S. adults reported a current ADHD diagnosis.[S4]
That estimate represented about 15.5 million U.S. adults.[S4]
In that survey, 55.9% of adults with current ADHD said they received their diagnosis at age 18 or later.[S4]
About 36.5% of adults with current ADHD reported receiving no ADHD treatment in the previous 12 months.[S4]
About 35.2% of adults with current ADHD reported both medication and counseling or behavioral treatment in the previous 12 months.[S4]
About 50.4% of adults with current ADHD reported being prescribed medication for ADHD in the previous 12 months.[S4]
About 46.0% of adults with current ADHD reported ever receiving telehealth services for ADHD.[S4]
A note on school support
An ADHD diagnosis alone does not automatically establish eligibility for an IEP or a Section 504 plan. Eligibility and supports are individual school decisions that depend on how a disability affects access to education and the applicable law. Families who want the education context can read our ADHD school support guide, 504 plan vs. IEP guide, and IEP guide. The Department of Education’s ADHD guidance is the source for the legal framing.[S5]
Methodology and limitations
Facts 11–103 use the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health. They are parent-reported estimates for noninstitutionalized U.S. children ages 3–17; they are not medical-record counts or a measure of undiagnosed ADHD.[S1]
Several child estimates are subgroup descriptions. They should not be used to infer cause, diagnose a person, or rank a child’s likely needs.[S1]
Facts 104–110 use a separate CDC Rapid Surveys System adult sample collected in October–November 2023. Its estimates should not be combined with the child survey as one trend line.[S4]
Treatment figures indicate parent- or self-reported receipt; they do not show whether care was clinically indicated, available, effective, or appropriate for an individual.[S1][S4]
Sources
[S1] Danielson ML, et al. ADHD Prevalence Among U.S. Children and Adolescents in 2022: Diagnosis, Severity, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Treatment. Journal of Attention Disorders (2024). National Survey of Children’s Health, n=45,169. Free full text at PubMed Central.
[S2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data on ADHD in Children. Used as the current CDC landing page and source trail; the numbered child facts above are drawn from S1’s 2022 tables.
[S3] National Institute of Mental Health. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: What You Need to Know.
[S4] Staley BS, et al. CDC. ADHD Diagnosis, Treatment, and Telehealth Use in Adults—United States, October–November 2023 (MMWR, 2024).
[S5] U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. ADHD and Section 504 resources.
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