Disability Statistics

Disability Statistics

Page Contents:

Incidence and Prevalence

Multiple sources have been cited in the table below that provide percentages of disability incidence worldwide.

(A) Percentages of Worldwide Disability Incidence
Data Source and Year Percentage of Worldwide Incidence and Notes
Source 1: from [Source 3 (A)] (2014) Worldwide Disability Incidence: 15%
Source 2 (2011) Worldwide Disability Incidence: 10%
Source 3 (2003/2006) Worldwide Disability Incidence: 10%
  • Notes:
    • World Health Organization (WHO) 2003. What are the main risk factors for disability in old age and how can disability be prevented? [Original link (no longer available): http://www.euro.who.int/document/E82970.pdf]
    • World Health Organization (WHO) 2006. Disability and Rehabilitation WHO Action Plan 2006-2011.
Source 4 (2014) Worldwide Disability Incidence: 15%

Disability Incidence by Country/Region

This next table breaks down disability incidence by country or region. Percentage data have been cited from multiple sources and links to some of the sources are provided within the table.

(B) Percentages of Disability Incidence by Country/Region
Country/Region Incidence, Year, and Data Source
Afghanistan Source 1: [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 4-10%
Africa Source 1 (No Year): Source 2 (No Year):
Argentina Source 1 (2010): Source 2 (2010): Source 3 (2004):
  • 7.1%
  • Website: Buenos Aires Ciudad; Domain: http://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/ (original link no longer available)
  • Notes: INDEC (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos) survey
Source 4 (2010)
  • 7.2%
  • Website: El Cisne; Domain: https://elcisne.org/ (original link no longer available)
  • Notes: 2010 census
Asia and the Pacific Source 1 (No Year):
Australia Source 1 (No Year): Source 2: from [Source 1 (B)] (2003):
  • 20%
Source 3 (2012):
Bangladesh Source 1: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 16.21% (Men: 10%, Women: 23%)
Brazil Source 1 (2010): [Source 2 (B)] (No Year):
  • 14.5%
[Source 5 (B)] (2001):
  • 14.5%
[Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 13.45%
Burkina Faso Source 1: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 7.95%
Cambodia Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 2.4%
Canada Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (2001):
  • approx. 12.5%
  • Notes: approx. 1 in 8 Canadians
Source 2: from [Source 3 (B)] (2006):
  • 14.3%
  • Notes: 1 in 7 Canadians
Source 3 (2001): Source 4 (2006):
Chile Source 1: from [Source 4 (B)] (and [Source 6 (B)]) (1996):
  • 4.3%
  • Notes: National Socioeconomic Household Survey (CASEN)
China Source 1 (2004):
  • 5%
  • Website: Disability World; Domain: http://www.disabilityworld.org/ (site is no longer available)
[Source 7 (B)] (2007):
  • 6.3%
  • Notes: ‘China Marks Help-The-Disabled Day’, CRIENGLISH.com, 20 May 2007
Colombia Source 1: from [Source 4 (B)] (and [Source 6 (B)]) (1993):
  • 1.2%
  • Notes: National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE)
Costa Rica Source 1: from [Source 4 (B)] (and [Source 6 (B)]) (1998):
  • 9.3%
  • Notes: Multipurpose Household Survey
Dominican Republic Source 1: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 8.72%
Ecuador Source 1: from [Source 4 (B)] (and [Source 6 (B)]) (1996):
  • 13.2%
  • Notes: National Institute of Statistics and Censuses
El Salvador Source 1: [Source 4 (B)] (and [Source 6 (B)]) (1992):
  • 1.6%
  • Notes: General Directorate of Statistics and Censuses
Ethiopia Source 1: [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 7.6%
European Union Source 1 (No Year): Source 2: from [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 15.7%
  • Notes: working age (16 to 64 years old)
Finland Source 1 (No Year):
  • 32.2%
  • Website: Step-Hear. Domain: http://www.step-hear.com/ (original link no longer available)
  • Notes: highest percentage prevalence of long standing disability in the European Union
Ghana Source 1: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 8.41%
Guatemala Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (1994):
  • 0.72%
India Source 1: from [Source 7 (B)] (No Year):
  • 2.13%
  • Notes: ‘The disabled trip up on Job Street’, The Economic Times, 19 August 2005
Source 2 (No Year):
  • 5 to 6%
  • Website: United Nations; Domain: http://www.un.org/ (original link no longer available)
  • Notes: India’s National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People
Indonesia Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 1%
Italy Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 6.6%
Japan Source 1 (No Year):
Kenya Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (1989):
  • 0.7%
  • Notes: 1989 Kenya Population Census estimated 0.7% of population were disabled. This is regarded as an underestimation.
Source 2: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 5.30%
Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR) Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 8%
Source 2: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 3.08%
Latin America and the Caribbean Source 1: from [Source 2 (B)] (2004)
  • 10%
Source 2 (between 2000 and 2011):
  • over 12%
  • https://www.un.org/ (original link no longer available)
  • Notes: latest available data from 33 countries, between 2000 and 2011; 5.4% in the Caribbean and 12.4% in Latin America
Source 3 (No Year):
Malawi Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (1983):
  • 2.9%
Source 2: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 12.97%
Mali Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 10%
Mauritius Source 1: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 11.43%
Mexico Source 1 (2000): Source 2: from [Source 4 (B)] (and [Source 6 (B)]) (2000):
  • 2.3%
  • Notes: XII General Population and Housing Census
Source 3: from [Source 8 (B)]
  • 5.30%
Mozambique Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (2005):
  • 9.9%
Nepal Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 7-10%
Netherlands Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 25.4%
  • Notes: third highest prevalence of disability in the European Union
New Zealand Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (1997):
  • 20%
  • Notes: long-term condition or health problem
Source 2: from [Source 7 (B)] (No Year): Source 3 (2013):
Nicaragua Source 1: from [Source 4 (B)] (and [Source 6 (B)]) (1995):
  • 12.3%
  • Notes: Technical Report on Disabilities in Latin America (using data from Household Survey)
Source 2: from [Source 5 (B)] (No Year):
  • 10.1%
Pakistan Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 7%
Source 2: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 5.99%
Paraguay Source 1: from [Source 4 (B)] (and [Source 6 (B)]) (1992):
  • 1.0%
  • Notes: National Population and Housing Census
Source 2: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 6.87%
Peru Source 1: from [Source 4 (B)] (and [Source 6 (B)]) (1993):
  • 13.1%
  • Notes: National Population (IX) and Housing (IV) Census
Philippines Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 1.23%
Source 2: from [Source 7 (B)] (2000):
  • 1.23%
  • Notes: International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report of Asia’, 2005
Source 3: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 8.49%
Romania Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 5.8%
  • Notes: long term disability
Rwanda Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (No Year):
  • 3.5%
South Africa Source 1 (2011): Source 2 (2011):
Turkey Source 1: from [Source 5 (B)] (No Year):
  • 12.3%
United Kingdom Source 1 (2014): Source 2 (No Year):
  • 27.2%
  • Website: Step-Hear. Domain: http://www.step-hear.com/ (original link no longer available)
  • Notes: long-standing health problem or disability; second highest prevalence of disability in the European Union
Source 3 (2011-2012): Source 4 (2012-2013):
  • 7% of children, 16% of adults working age, 43% of adults over state pension age
  • Domain: http://www.mph-uk.com/ (original site is no longer available)
  • Family Resources Survey 2012/13, published July 2014
United States Source 1 (2012): [Source 1 (B)] (2002):
  • 18%
Source 2 (2010): Source 3 (2005):
Venezuela Source 1 (2001):
  • 3.67%
  • Original link (Google site no longer available): https://sites.google.com/site/discapacidadvenezuela/Home/articulos/cuantas-personas-con-discapacidad-hay-en-venezuela
  • Notes: 2001 Census, Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (INE)
Zambia Source 1: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 5.78%
Zimbabwe Source 1: from [Source 1 (B)] (1997):
  • 2%
Source 2: from [Source 8 (B)] (No Year):
  • 10.98%

Sources

  1. http://www.rollingrains.com/readings/2010/03/the-number-of-people-with-disabilities-worldwide.html
  2. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DISABILITY/Resources/Regions/LAC/LACfactsheetEng.pdf (original link no longer available)
  3. https://www.rickhansen.com/Our-Work/School-Program/Resources/Disability-statistics
  4. Website: Australian Disability + Development Consortium; Domain: https://www.addc.org.au/ (original link no longer available)
  5. http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/
  6. http://unipd-centrodirittiumani.it/public/docs/31863_statistics.pdf
  7. Website: United Nations; Domain: http://www.un.org/ (original link no longer available)
  8. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/SOCIALPROTECTION/Resources/SP-Discussion-papers/Disability-DP/1109.pdf (original link no longer available)

Employment Rate and Opportunities

Personal circumstances vary greatly, but statistically speaking, people with disabilities as a group tend to be disproportionately represented among those who are unemployed or under-employed, even after taking their disability into account. In a minority of cases, the disability itself and/or related health issues severely limit the individual's ability to work, or prevent it entirely. In most cases, though, people with disabilities are willing and able to perform in the job market when given the chance. Workplace discrimination and inaccessible work environments often reduce the employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Employment Rate
Country/Region % of Disabled Population Employed Year Data sources Notes
Argentina
  1. 9%
  2. 9%
  1. --
  2. 2004
  1. [Source 3]
  2. [Source 4]
  1. --
  2. World Bank, ‘Disability and inclusive development: Latin America and the Caribbean’, 2004
Australia
  1. 39.8%
  2. 54.3%
  3. 53%
  1. 2003
  2. 2009
  3. 2012
  1. [Source 1]
  2. https://www.and.org.au/ (original link no longer available)
  3. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/E82EBA276AB693E5CA257C21000E5013?opendocument
  1. --
  2. --
  3. Aged 15 to 64 years
Austria
  1. 48.3%
  2. about 66.6% (about 2/3)
  1. 2005
  2. 2005
  1. [Source 1]
  2. [Source 4]
  1. --
  2. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, ‘Number of disabled people in employment remains low’, 2006
Belgium 34.4% 2005 [Source 1]
Bulgaria 13% 2005 [Source 4] Working age 16 to 64 years. International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report of Europe’, 2007
Canada
  1. 43.7%
  2. 89.6%
  3. 74%
  1. 2006
  2. 2006
  3. 2004
  1. [Source 1]
  2. https://www.rickhansen.com/Our-Work/School-Program/Resources/Disability-statistics
  3. [Source 4]
  1. --
  2. International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report of the Americas’, 2004
Chile 25.1% 2004 [Source 4] International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report of the Americas’, 2004
Czech Republic 40.9% 2005 [Source 1]
Denmark 52.3% 2005 [Source 1]
Estonia 25%% 2002 [Source 4] 2002 National Statistical Report. International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report of Europe’, 2007
European Union around 50% 2010 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52010DC0636&qid=1415809599955
Finland 54.1% 2005 [Source 1]
France 36.3% 2005 [Source 1]
Germany 41.0% 2005 [Source 1]
Greece
  1. 37.5%
  2. 16%
  1. 2005
  2. 2002
  1. [Source 1]
  2. [Source 4]
  1. --
  2. Survey on People with Health Problems or Disability (second semester of 2002) by the National Statistical Service. International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report of Europe’, 2007
Honduras 32% 2002 [Source 4] 2002 National Institute of Statistics. International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report of the Americas’, 2004
Hungary 39.2% 2005 [Source 1]
Iceland 61.3% 2005 [Source 1]
India
  1. 34%
  2. 26% (physical disabilities), 6% (mental retardation)
  1. 2006
  2. 2005
  1. http://www.apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/india
  2. [Source 4]
  1. --
  2. International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report of Asia’, 2005
Indonesia less than 1% -- [Source 2]
Ireland
  1. 31.9%
  2. just over 37%
  1. 2005
  2. 2004
  1. [Source 1]
  2. [Source 4]
  1. --
  2. Ages 15-64. Quarterly Household National Survey 2004. International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report of Europe’, 2007
Italy 36.0% 2005 [Source 1]
Korea 44.7% 2005 [Source 1]
Latin America and the Caribbean
  1. 10-20%
  2. 10-20%
  1. --
  2. 2004
  1. [Source 3]
  2. [Source 4]
  1. --
  2. World Bank, ‘Disability and inclusive development: Latin America and the Caribbean’, 2004
Luxembourg 50.2% 2004 [Source 1]
Mexico
  1. 55.4%
  2. 25%
  1. 2004
  2. --
  1. [Source 1]
  2. [Source 3]
Netherlands 44.5% 2006 [Source 1]
New Zealand
  1. 44%
  2. 29%
  1. --
  2. 2006
  1. [Source 2]
  2. [Source 4]
  1. --
  2. National Equal Opportunities Network, ‘Disability in the workplace: the good news and the bad news’, May 2006
Norway 44.7% 2005 [Source 1]
Philippines 57.12% 2005 [Source 4] International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report of Asia’, 2005
Poland 17.6% 2004 [Source 1]
Portugal 43.5% 2005 [Source 1]
Republic of Korea 70% 2003 [Source 4] ‘Firms still failing to hire disabled’, The Korea Herald, 6 June 2003
Russian Federation 30% 2007 [Source 4] International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report of Europe’, 2007
Slovak Republic 40.4% 2005 [Source 1]
South Africa 54.7% 1996 Disability and Social Change: A South African Agenda (p. 225) on Google Books
Spain
  1. 34.9%
  2. 34%
  1. 2004
  2. 2003
  1. [Source 1]
  2. [Source 4]
  1. --
  2. Website: Disability World; Domain: http://www.disabilityworld.org/ (site is no longer available)
Sweden 51.9% 2005 [Source 1]
Switzerland 52.1% 2005 [Source 1]
United Kingdom
  1. 46.3%
  2. 45.3%
  3. 49%
  4. 50%
  1. 2012
  2. 2006
  3. 2013
  4. --
  1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-facts-and-figures/disability-facts-and-figures
  2. [Source 1]
  3. http://www.papworthtrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/Facts%20and%20Figures%202013%20web.pdf
  4. https://livingmadeeasy.org.uk/ (original link no longer available)
United States
  1. 33.5%
  2. 41.1%
  3. 39.9%
  4. 35%
  5. 35%
  6. 35%
  1. 2012
  2. 2010
  3. 2004
  4. 2004
  5. 2004
  6. 2004
  1. http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/reports/acs.cfm?statistic=2 (need to submit selected search criteria to view statistics)
  2. Website: Annual Disability Statistics Compendium; Domain: https://disabilitycompendium.org/ (original link no longer available)
  3. [Source 1]
  4. http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/
  5. [Source 4]
  6. Website: United Nations; Domain: http://www.un.org/ (original link no longer available)
  1. Ages 21-64
  2. --
  3. --
  4. Working age persons
  5. Working age persons. Website: United Nations; Domain: http://www.un.org/ (original link no longer available)
  6. Working-age people with disabilities
Vietnam 30% 2005 [Source 4] International Disability Rights Monitor, ‘Regional Report of Asia’, 2005

Sources:

  1. Website: Annual Disability Statistics Compendium; Domain: https://disabilitycompendium.org/ (original link no longer available)
  2. http://www.rollingrains.com/readings/2010/03/the-number-of-people-with-disabilities-worldwide.html
  3. Website: Planneta Educação; Domain: http://www.plannetaeducacao.com.br/ (original link no longer available)
  4. Website: United Nations; Domain: http://www.un.org/ (original link no longer available)

Educational Attainment

Educational Attainment
Country/Region % with less than high school education % with high school education % with (some) college education % with bachelor's degree and higher Year Data sources Notes
Australia -- 36% -- -- 2012 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/E82EBA276AB693E5CA257C21000E5013?opendocument
Canada -- Men: 79%, Women: 81% -- Men: 14%, Women: 14% 2006 https://www.rickhansen.com/Our-Work/School-Program/Resources/Disability-statistics
Rwanda 27% -- -- -- 2012 Website: National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda; Domain: http://www.statistics.gov.rw/ (original link no longer available) children who had never attended school
United States
  1. 22.2%
  2. 21.9%
  1. --
  2. 36.8%
  1. --
  2. 25.2%
  1. --
  2. 16.2%
  1. 2012
  2. 2013
  1. http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/reports/acs.cfm?statistic=9 (need to submit selected search criteria to view statistics)
  2. http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2014/ted_20141010.htm
  1. persons aged 21 to 64 years
  2. age 25 and older
Literacy
Country/Region Literacy Rate Year Data sources Notes
Honduras 49% 2004 http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DISABILITY/Resources/Regions/LAC/LACfactsheetEng.pdf
India 40% 2009 Website: University College London, Domain: https://www.ucl.ac.uk (original link no longer available) disabled adults
World
  1. 3% (Women and girls: 1%)
  2. 3% (Women: 1%)
  3. 3% (Women: 1%)
  1. 2011
  2. 2008
  3. 1998
  1. http://www.womenlobby.org/spip.php?article1664
  2. Website: United Nations; Domain: http://www.un.org/ (original link no longer available)
  1. --
  2. disabled adults (Helander 1993, Unesco 2008)
  3. 1998 UNDP study

Poverty and Disability

Disabilities can be expensive, not only for the person with a disability, but also for family members and care-givers. An electric wheelchair, for example, can cost anywhere from under US $2000 to US $30,000 or more, depending on the features required. The wheelchair must also be maintained and repaired. Beyond the equipment cost, a person who needs an electric wheelchair likely also needs the daily assistance of other people, both at home and in the workplace. The cost of simply living and doing daily tasks can be significantly higher for a person with a disability when compared to the costs for someone without a disability.

The yearly cost of the support systems (assistive technologies plus human helpers) varies dramatically depending on the type of disability, and can range from almost no cost on the low end to staggeringly high costs on the other extreme. These are the non-negotiable costs of life. Sadly, many people with disabilities who need these support systems cannot afford them, so their disability is compounded by financial constraints that prevent them from receiving technologies and services that could dramatically improve their quality of life.

The result is that a large proportion of people with disabilities, and their families, live in or near poverty [NEED CITATION HERE]. This is especially true in poorer countries, where people with disabilities are often among the poorest of the poor, and the most vulnerable of populations [NEED CITATION HERE].

References

Poverty and Disability
Country/Region % of Disabled Population Living in Poverty Year Data sources Notes
Australia 27.4% 2012 http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2013/03/disabled-people-more-likely-live-poverty-acoss living below the poverty line of 50% of median household income
Latin America and the Caribbean
  1. 82%
  2. About 80%
  1. --
  2. --
  1. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DISABILITY/Resources/Regions/LAC/LACfactsheetSpn.pdf
  2. Website: Planneta Educação; Domain: http://www.plannetaeducacao.com.br/ (original link no longer available)
United Kingdom
  1. 30%
  2. 23.1%
  3. 30%
  1. 2013
  2. --
  3. 2013
  1. Domain: http://www.mph-uk.com/ (original site is no longer available)
  2. http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/
  3. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-facts-and-figures/disability-facts-and-figures
  1. --
  2. When extra expenses associated with being disabled were considered, the poverty rate for people with disabilities shot up to 47.4 percent.
  3. Papworth Trust – Disability in the United Kingdom, Facts and Figures, December 2013
United States
  1. 28.4%
  2. 27%
  3. 21.4% (Women: 23.8%, Men: 18.6%)
  4. 25.3%
  1. 2012
  2. 2009
  3. 2012
  4. --
  1. http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/reports/acs.cfm?statistic=7 (need to submit selected search criteria to view statistics)
  2. http://www.cjwalsh.ie/2009/02/us-disability-statistics-practical-application-in-europe/
  3. http://www.demos.org/blog/1/31/14/over-1-5-disabled-americans-are-poverty
  4. https://www.americanbar.org/ (original link no longer available)
  1. --
  2. 25 to 64 years of age with a severe disability
  3. age 15 and above. (disability poverty rate by sex and race in source)
  4. --

Aging Populations

Those of us who are lucky enough to live to an old age will probably acquire a disability, or perhaps several disabilities. Many of us lose our sight, our hearing, our mobility, and our cognition as we age. In a sense, you could say that disabilities are a natural and expected part of life, and those who do not experience disabilities as they age are actually in the minority.

In countries with life expectancies over 70 years, individuals spend on average about 8 years, or 11.5 per cent of their life span, living with disabilities.

Source: Website: United Nations; Domain: http://www.un.org/ (original link no longer available)

Disability of Persons 65+ Worldwide
Age Percentage with Disability
Any Age 10%
70+ 20%
85+ 50%

Source: Website: University at Buffalo - Department of Rehabilitation Science; Domain: https://publichealth.buffalo.edu/ (original link no longer available)

References: The World Health Organization (2003; 2006)

Disability by Age (New Zealand, 2013)
Age Range Percentage with Disability
Children under 15 years 11%
Adults under 65 21%
65 or over 59%

Source: Website: New Zealand Government; Domain: https://www.govt.nz (original link no longer available)

Disability in the United Kingdom 2013: "Only 17% of disabled people were born with their disabilities. The majority of disabled people acquire their disability later in life."

Source: http://www.papworthtrust.org.uk (original link no longer available)

References: Website: Institute for Public Policy Research; Domain: https://www.ippr.org/ (original link no longer available); Article: Work for Disabled People

U.S. Population Aged 65 and Over by Number of Disabilities and Age: 2008−2012
Age None One Two Three or More
65 and over 61.3% 15.9% 8.0% 14.7%
65 to 74 73.6% 13.9% 5.5% 7.0%
75 to 84 55.0% 18.7% 9.8% 16.5%
85 and over 27.5% 17.1% 13.9% 41.5%

Source: Website: United States Census Bureau. Domain: https://www.census.gov/ (original link no longer available)

Notes: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-year estimates, 2008−2012.

U.S. Population Aged 65 and Over with a Disability by Type of Disability, Age, and Sex: 2008–2012
Type of Disability Total Age 65 to 74 Age 75 to 84 Age 85 and Over Male Female
Vision 19.2% 16.5% 18.2% 24.9% 17.6% 20.4%
Hearing 40.4% 34.9% 40.6% 48.1% 52.0% 32.3%
Cognitive 28.8% 22.6% 28.0% 39.1% 25.9% 30.8%
Ambulatory 66.5% 63.6% 65.2% 72.8% 57.1% 73.1%
Self-Care 28.4% 20.2% 26.9% 42.4% 23.3% 31.9%
Independent Living 47.8% 34.0% 47.2% 68.7% 37.0% 55.4%

Source: Website: United States Census Bureau. Domain: https://www.census.gov/ (original link no longer available)

Notes: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-year estimates, 2008–2012.

In the U.S. Census Bureau 2014 report, Americans aged 85 and older represented 13.6 percent of the total older population (ages 65 and up) and accounted for 25.4 percent of those with a disability.

Source: Website: United States Census Bureau. Domain: https://www.census.gov/ (original link no longer available)

Reference: He, Wan and Luke J. Larsen, U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Reports, ACS-29, Older Americans With a Disability: 2008 – 2012, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 2014.

Percentage of Persons 65+ with a Disability (United States, 2013)
Type of Disability Percentage
Independent Living 15%
Self-Care 9%
Ambulatory 23%
Cognitive 9%
Vision 7%
Hearing 15%
Any Disability 36%

Source: Website: Administration for Community Living; Domain: https://www.acl.gov/ (original link no longer available)

Notes: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.