Disability: the statistics

Disability Statistics in the UK

The UK government reports on disability in the UK statistics are:

• There are over 11 million people with a limiting long term illness, impairment or disability.
• The prevalence of disability rises with age. Around 6% of children are disabled, compared to 16% of working age adults and 45% of adults over State Pension age.

Disability affects lifestyle; over a quarter of disabled people say they do not frequently have choice and control over their daily lives. This is what we, at Visualise, are working to change by making services more inclusive.

Disability across the world and its impact

1 billion people identify as having a disability, roughly 15% of the worlds population.

According to findings by the World Health Organisation (WHO), rates of disability are increasing:

• Due to population ageing and increases in chronic health conditions, among other causes.
• People with disabilities have less access to health care services and therefore experience unmet health care needs.

The WHO have more information about disability on their website.

Visual Impairment in the UK

2 million people in the UK have sight loss (RNIB).
Predicted to increase to 4 million by 2050 (RNIB).
285 million people in the world (WHO).
75% of guide dog owners have been refused services (Guide dogs for the Blind)

Mental Health in the UK

1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year (MIND)
Suicide is the most common cause of death for men aged 20 to 49 in England and Wales (Time to Change)
1 in 15 people have attempted suicide in lifetime. (Time to Change)
9 out of 10 people living with mental health illness will experience stigma or discrimination (Time to Change)

General Disability Statistics

Only 8% of disabled people use a wheelchair (Scope)
46% of disabled people are employed as opposed to 76% of non-disabled people (Scope)
Disabled people’s spending power is estimated to be £2012 billion (Scope)

Diabetes

371 million people in the world have diabetes (Diabetes UK0
3.5 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes in the UK (Diabetes UK)
Diabetes prevalence in the UK is estimated to rise to 5 million by 2025
Type 2 diabetes has been growing at a particularly high rate and is now one of the world’s most common long term health conditions