Trends in ADHD Among U.S. Children

For Everyone

What to know

  • This page displays ADHD prevalence among children in the U.S. from 1997 through 2024.
  • The percentage of children estimated to have ADHD has changed over time, and its measurement can vary.
  • Information on this page is intended for public health professionals, healthcare providers and those interested in reviewing ADHD data.
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Overview

CDC uses national surveys that ask parents about their child's health to monitor the number of children with ADHD and the treatment patterns for these children. The data presented on this page are from CDC's National Health Information Survey (NHIS) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)'s National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). These surveys rely on parent report of ADHD diagnosis by a healthcare provider.

National survey data on ADHD

Data notes

  • Estimates are similar across different surveys. Data point estimates from the same year but different surveys can be viewed separately by clicking on the corresponding surveys in the chart legend below each graph.
  • National surveys are occasionally redesigned to best reflect changes in the U.S. population. When survey design changes occur, data from different versions of the same survey should not be directly compared.

Percent of U.S. children aged 3-17 years with a parent-reported ADHD diagnosisA†

Percent of U.S. children aged 3-17 years with current ADHD who receive treatment (based on parent report)B C †

†More about national surveys

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH)

More data on ADHD

Doctor sitting on couch with mother and daughter going over chart.
Data on ADHD in Children
CDC's latest data on ADHD in U.S. children.
A young boy with his parents on the couch pointing at a tablet
ADHD Data and Resources for States
Information and resources on ADHD in each state.
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Content Source:
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
  1. These parent-reported ADHD diagnosis estimates only include an "ever" diagnosis for their child. An "ever" ADHD diagnosis refers to when an individual has received an ADHD diagnosis from a provider at any point in their life.
  2. ADHD “medication" treatment refers to when an individual currently has an ADHD diagnosis from a provider and they are currently taking medication for ADHD.
  3. ADHD “behavioral treatment” refers to when an individual currently has an ADHD diagnosis from a provider and they received behavioral treatment for ADHD in the past 12 months.