More children, adolescents, and adults in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) are being diagnosed with autism. According to data from the two local medical associations in NRW, this trend has been observed. In 2015, doctors treated 10,401 patients aged 0 to 15 years with early childhood autism, atypical autism, or Asperger’s syndrome. This number rose to 19,143 in 2020 and reached 38,661 in the year 2025. For those aged 16 to 49, the number increased from 8,921 patients in 2015 to 36,347 in 2025.
The North Rhine Medical Association stated that their experts do not currently see any medically or scientifically verifiable reasons for such a sharp increase. Instead, the association suggested that medical science may have become more sensitive to the condition, and that research and diagnostic criteria have advanced. Therefore, they cautioned that the rise in figures might not reflect an actual increase in the number of people affected, but rather that the diagnosis is being more frequently applied.
Michael Achenbach, from the Westphalia-Lippe Association of Pediatricians, commented that “people are looking much more closely now”. He pointed out that better screenings and outpatient clinics exist, leading to earlier diagnoses. He added that diagnosing a patient at two or three years old means they remain in the statistics for a longer period, suggesting that earlier diagnosis is responsible for a large part of the growth.
Achenbach also noted that in cases with mild symptoms, autistic disorders were often previously undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, but better guidelines are now available for diagnosis. Additionally, he speculated on a social effect: “There is more knowledge about autism in the population. This has led to a reduction in stigma” which in turn makes it easier for both doctors and parents to accept the diagnosis.