Disability is not rare, however it is hard to obtain an estimate of the number of people with disabilities as there are big differences in the ways countries define and measure disability; the quality and methods of data collection; the reliability of sources; and disclosure rates as families may fear stigma and isolation (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 12; WHO & World Bank, 2011, pp. 21-24). Estimates may vary from country to country as a result, and in low income countries prevalence is often recorded as very low as a result of the use of weak methodologies. The Washington Group Short Set of questions has been designed to consistently measure disability worldwide and is beginning to be used more widely.
The World Report on Disability, 2011, is seen to be the ‘most reliable and authoritative source to date on disability in terms of data and statistics’ (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 12). It finds that there are over a billion people, about 15 per cent of the world’s population, who have some form of disability (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 44). A similar global figure of 14 per cent is found by Mitra & Sambamoorthi (2014, p. 940) using a different methodology but the same data. They also find that there is variation in prevalence of disability across countries, with low and middle income countries having higher disability prevalence compared to high income countries; older adults (65 and above) being more likely to be disabled (39 per cent) than working age adults (12 per cent); and women (18.5 per cent) having higher prevalence than men (12.1 per cent) (Mitra & Sambamoorthi, 2014, pp. 940, 944).
Disability prevalence is likely to rise as a result of ‘ageing populations and the higher risk of disability in older people as well as the global increase in chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and mental health disorders’ (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. xi).
Age-sex standardized disability prevalence (per cent) among adults for all countries and by country income group
Source: Mitra & Sambamoorthi, 2014, p. 944.
Prevalence of limitations and disability (per cent) for all countries by demographic characteristic
Source: Mitra & Sambamoorthi, 2014, p. 944.
- Al Ju’beh, K. (2015). Disability inclusive development toolkit. Bensheim: CBM. See document online
- Mitra, S., & Sambamoorthi, U. (2014). Disability prevalence among adults: Estimates for 54 countries and progress toward a global estimate. Disability and Rehabilitation, 36(11), 940-947. See document online
- Rimmerman, A. (2013). Social inclusion of people with disabilities: National and international perspectives. Cambridge University Press.
- WHO & the World Bank. (2011). World report on disability. Geneva: WHO. See document online