Autism more common in children than previously thought, study finds

New figures show factors such as gender, race and social advantage play a factor, Sam Hancock writes

Black and Chinese pupils are 26 per cent and 38 per cent more likely to be autistic (AFP via Getty Images)

Around 1 in 57 children in England is on the autistic spectrum, and socially disadvantaged kids are more likely to have the disorder, new research suggests.

The study of more than 7 million children – conducted by scientists at the University of Cambridge and researchers from Newcastle University and Maastricht University – found that black and Chinese pupils are 26 per cent and 38 per cent more likely to be autistic respectively.

It also concluded that pupils with a record of autism in schools are 60 per cent more likely to be socially disadvantaged, and 36 per cent less likely to speak English, researchers said.