Changes in the population of people with autism spectrum disorder in Poland between 2012 and 2023

Introduction In Poland the largest group among the respondents are young people – up to 24 years of age, accounting for over 70% of the diagnosed population of Poles with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Aim To present the changes taking place in the population of people with ASD in Poland in the years 2012–2023 and to present the current epidemiological situation of ASD in Poland. Material and methods Desk research was used. Four research questions were posed, to which answers were obtained in the data analysis process. Results and discussion Estimating the ASD population in Poland is essential for planning healthcare, education, and social services. In the 2022/2023 school year, 82,199 children had special education needs due to ASD – a 30% increase from the previous year. Conclusions The rise in diagnoses (from 18,924 to 131,440) may reflect both a real increase and better diagnostics and awareness. The declining male-to-female ratio (from 4.56 in 2012 to 2.99 in 2023) suggests improved recognition of ASD in females. The biggest increases are among children and youth, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and school support. Regional differences, such as over 1000% increases in some provinces.