CDC uses datasets from parent surveys and healthcare claims to understand diagnosis and treatment patterns for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). On this page you can review information from different studies.
How many children have ADHD?
The percent of children estimated to have ADHD has changed over time and its measurement can vary. The American Psychiatric Association states in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5, 2013) that 5% of children have ADHD1. However, other studies in the US have estimated higher rates in community samples.
In 2016:
- The estimated number of children and adolescents ever diagnosed with ADHD, according to parent report, was consistent with previous estimates from the National Survey of Children’s Health.
Estimated number of children who ever had ADHD, in millions
