Facts and statistics
Below are some useful statistics on disabled people. They can help you to understand a large proportion of our society, including demographics and impairment types.
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Found 38 facts and statistics.
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Disabled people in England
There are 11.5 million disabled people in England, accounting for one in five (21 per cent) of the total population. This is an increase from 10.9million in 2018-19, and from 9.9 million since 2013-14.
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Region
Disability is most prevalent in the North of England. 25 per cent of people in the North East, and 23 per cent of people in the North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber are disabled. London has a lower prevalence at just 13 per cent.
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Gender
There are more disabled women than men. 22 per cent of women in the UK are disabled, compared to 19 per cent of men.
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Age
The prevalence of disability rises with age. In the UK, 8 per cent of children are disabled compared with 18 per cent of working age adults and 44 per cent of people over state pension age.
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Older people
Three in five (62 per cent) disabled people in the UK are aged over 50.
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Disabled people's activity levels
Disabled adults are almost twice as likely as non-disabled people to be physically inactive (43 per cent vs 23 per cent).
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Disabled people's participation
Four in five (78 per cent) disabled people would like to be more active.
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Disabled people and organised activity
Just one in four (25 per cent) disabled people had taken part in an organised activity session in the last year, compared to 36 per cent of non-disabled people.
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Role of health and sports professionals
Healthcare professionals are the preferred source of advice on sport and physical activity for disabled people: 65 per cent would listen to their GP, doctor, or nurse, and 60 per cent would listen to a physiotherapist or occupational therapist.
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Opportunity to be active
Before the pandemic, more disabled people felt they had the opportunity to be as physically active as they wanted to be: 40 per cent in 2019 vs 58 per cent in 2020.
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Motivations to be active
Two-thirds of (67 per cent) disabled people are motivated to be active to improve or maintain their physical health. Motivations like taking part to relax, have something to do, and to socialise are becoming more important for disabled people.
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Attitudes towards disabled people
Almost 9 in 10 disabled people (87 per cent) agree that attitudes about disabled people need to improve generally.
