On World Autism Awareness Day, observed on Tuesday, April 2, Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Security reported a significant increase of 41 percent in the number of recognized individuals with autism over the past two years.
According to the Ministry, 30,876 people with autism received services in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 27,105 in 2022 and 22,231 in 2021. It’s important to note that there are individuals diagnosed with autism who do not utilize services from the Ministry of Welfare.
Further data indicates that the majority of individuals receiving services are between the ages of 3 and 14, with 7,609 boys and 1,961 girls on the spectrum. Additionally, the data shows that the highest number of recognized individuals live in Tel Aviv and the central region, while the fewest reside in the southern part of the country.