Disability statistics text only summary

This is a text only version of our Disability statistics page, which summarises the key statistics.

Presentation summary

Slide 1

There are over 11 million people with a limiting long term illness, impairment or disability

Slide 2

That’s 19%, or nearly one-fifth of the population

Slide 3

The proportion of people with a disability increases with age:

  • Children 6%
  • Working age adults 45%
  • Over state pension age 48%

End of presentation

By age

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.

Source: UK Government Family Resources Survey.

By impairment type

The most commonly-reported impairments are those that affect mobility, lifting or carrying.

Source: UK Government Family Resources Survey

By region

In 2013/14 the North East had the highest percentage of disabled people at 23% of the local population. Inner London had the lowest at 14%.

The East of England had 19%, the same as the average for the UK and England.

Source: UK Government Family Resources Survey

By employment

27% of disabled adults are in paid employment (employed or self-employed). 42% are retired. 2% are looking after family/the home. 1% are students.

The remainder are unemployed, permanently or temporarily sick or otherwise inactive.

Source: UK Government Family Resources Survey

Post-19 qualifications

Disabled people are around 3 times as likely not to hold any qualifications compared to non-disabled people, and around half as likely to hold a degree-level qualification.

Suffolk Coastal comparisons

For households with dependent children Suffolk Coastal (3.8%) was below the East of England (4.3%) and England (4.6%) totals.

However for households with no dependent children Suffolk Coastal (22.6%) was slightly higher than the East of England (20.3%) and England (21%).

Sources