Incidence and Prevalence of Disability

Question 1

Percent of global population with a disability

Answer 1

Estimated 10-20% depending on the survey methodology, definition of the word “disability,” and other factors.

Question 2

Number of people with disability worldwide

Answer 2

700 million - 1.4 billion

Question 3

WHO “significant disability” global statistic

Answer 3

1.3 billion people (16% or 10 or 15%)

Question 4

Afghanistan disability incidence

Answer 4

4-10%

Question 5

Africa

Answer 5

40% or 10-20% (possibly as high as 20% in poorer regions)

Question 6

Argentina

Answer 6

7.1% - 12.9%. Among 12.9%: Men 11.7%, Women 14%.

Question 7

Asia and the Pacific

Answer 7

16.7% (1 in 6 people)

Question 8

Australia

Answer 8

18.5% - 20%
Among 18.5%: Men 18%, Women 19%
Ages 4-15: Boys 11.2%, Girls 6.2%

Question 9

Bangladesh

Answer 9

16.21% (Men 10%, Women 23%)

Question 10

Brazil

Answer 10

13.45 - 23.9%

Question 11

Burkina Faso

Answer 11

7.95%

Question 12

Cambodia

Answer 12

2.4%

Question 13

Canada

Answer 13

12.4 - 14.3%

Question 14

Chile

Answer 14

4.3%

Question 15

China

Answer 15

5 - 6.3%

Question 16

Colombia

Answer 16

1.2%

Question 17

Costa Rica

Answer 17

9.3%

Question 18

Dominican Republic

Answer 18

8.72%

Question 19

Ecuador

Answer 19

13.2%

Question 20

El Salvador

Answer 20

1.6%

Question 21

Ethiopia

Answer 21

7.6%

Question 22

European Union

Answer 22

15.7%

Question 23

Finland

Answer 23

32.2% (highest percentage prevalence of long standing disability in the EU)

Question 24

Ghana

Answer 24

8.41%

Question 25

Guatemala

Answer 25

0.72%

Question 26

India

Answer 26

2.13 - 5 - 6%

Question 27

Indonesia

Answer 27

1%

Question 28

Italy

Answer 28

6.6%

Question 29

Japan

Answer 29

5.9%

Question 30

Kenya

Answer 30

0.7% (1989 underestimation) - 5.3%

Question 31

Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR)

Answer 31

3.08 - 8%

Question 32

Latin America and the Caribbean

Answer 32

10 - over 12%

Question 33

Malawi

Answer 33

2.9 - 12.97%

Question 34

Mali

Answer 34

10%

Question 35

Mauritius

Answer 35

11.43%

Question 36

Mexico

Answer 36

1.8 - 5.3%

Question 37

Mozambique

Answer 37

9.9%

Question 38

Nepal

Answer 38

7 - 10%

Question 39

Netherlands

Answer 39

25.4% (Third highest prevalence of disability in the EU)

Question 40

New Zealand

Answer 40

20-24%

Question 41

Nicaragua

Answer 41

10.1 - 12.3%

Question 42

Pakistan

Answer 42

5.99 - 7%

Question 43

Paraguay

Answer 43

1 - 6.87%

Question 44

Peru

Answer 44

13.1%

Question 45

Philippines

Answer 45

1.23 - 8.49%

Question 46

Romania

Answer 46

5.8% (long term disability)

Question 47

Rwanda

Answer 47

3.5%

Question 48

South Africa

Answer 48

7.5% (Men: 8.3%, Women: 6.5%)

Question 49

Turkey

Answer 49

12.3%

Question 50

United Kingdom

Answer 50

2014: 16%
Source 2 (no year): 27.2% (Note: long-standing health problem or disability; second highest prevalence of disability in the EU)
2011-2012: 19%
Source 4 (no year): 7% of children, 16% of adults working age, 43% of adults over state pension age

Question 51

United States

Answer 51

12.1% - 19%
(12.1%, 18% (2002), 16.6% (2010), 19%)

Question 52

Venezuela

Answer 52

3.67%

Question 53

Zambia

Answer 53

5.78%

Question 54

Zimbabwe

Answer 54

2% (1997) - 10.98% (no year)

Question 55

Disability prevalence in older populations

Answer 55

30-60%, compared to 10-20% of the population as a whole. Often, we acquire multiple disabilities as a natural part of the aging process.

Question 56

In countries with life expectancies over 70 years, individuals spend how much of their lives living with disabilities?

Answer 56

An average of 8 years, or 11.5% of their lifespan.

Question 57

Disability rate of people 65+ worldwide

Answer 57

Any age: 10%
70+ : 20%
85+ : 50%

Question 58

Disability by age in New Zealand, 2013

Answer 58

Children under 15: 11%
Adults under 65: 21%
65 or over: 59%

Question 59

Percent of people in UK born with disabilities (2013 data)

Answer 59

17%. The majority of disabled people acquire their disability later in life.

Question 60

US Census Bureau 2014 report elderly disability stats

Answer 60

Americans aged 85 and older represented 13.6% of the total older population (65 and up) and accounted for 25.4% of people with a disability.

Question 61

Percentage of people 65+ with a disability in the US (2013)

Answer 61

• Independent Living: 15%
• Self-care: 9%
• Ambulatory: 23%
• Cognitive: 9%
• Vision: 7%
• Hearing: 15%
• Any Disability: 36%