Disabled
Approximately 15% of the world population lives with some form of disability. 110-190 million people (2-4%) are estimated to have a severe disability (e.g., quadriplegia, severe depression, blindness). Approximately 1-3% of the population is thought to have an intellectual disability (mental retardation). Those with low income and education are at an increased risk for disability.
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Twelve percent of the US population reports serious difficulty seeing, hearing, walking, thinking, doing errands, or taking care of themselves. States with the highest prevalence of disability are in the South. Disability rates increase over time, with over one-third of people over 65 reporting a disability. 1.7 million Americans (0.6% of the population) rely on a wheelchair or scooter for transportation. Approximately 14% of US children are estimated to have some form of developmental disability (most often ADHD or a learning disability).
World Health Organization – World Report on Disability (2011)
The Prevalence of Mental Retardation: A Critical Review of the Recent Literature
U.S. Census Bureau – American Community Survey (2010)
UCSF Disability Statistics Center – Mobility Device Use in the United States