Table of contents
Did you know that more than one billion people worldwide live with a disability? Even in a developed country like Canada, disability prevalence is more common than you may realize.
We gathered 13 shocking disability statistics that highlight the prevalence of disability and the financial impact of a disability.
- Key takeaways:
- With over one billion people living with a disability worldwide, disabilities are far more common than many realize.
- Of the 22% of Canadians aged 15 and older living with at least one disability, many are unemployed and live below the poverty line.
- Illnesses, not accidents cause most disabilities in Canada.
Disability Statistics Worldwide
1. Over one billion people worldwide live with a disability
According to the World Health Organization, this jarring disability statistic shows that around 15% of the world’s population live with a disability. As a matter of fact, disabled people are the largest minority in the world.
2. In countries with life expectancies of over 70 years, people spend eight years living with disabilities
That equates to 11.5% of their lives with one or more disabilities. Countries with life expectancies of over 70 years are primarily developed western countries like Canada, the the US, and most of Europe.
3. 90% of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school
According to UNESCO, only 10% of children with disabilities in developing countries have a formal education. Unfortunately, students with disabilities are more likely to become victims of violence.
Disability Statistics In Canada
Statistics Canada conducted the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability to evaluate the demographics, employment, and income of disabled Canadians aged 15 and older. Here are some startling findings from the survey.
4. In 2017, 22% of Canadians aged 15 years and over had one or more disabilities
22% of Canadians aged 15 years and over is about 6.2 million people. The Canadian Survey on Disability also showed that disability rates increased in older adults. In fact, 38% of those aged 65 and over experienced at least one disability.
5. Women are more likely than men to have a disability
24% of women aged 15 and older have a disability, while 20% of men in the same age group experienced a disability. Among the causes, women cited aging as the cause of the main condition of their disability. In fact, almost a quarter of women aged 15 and older reported aging to be the cause of their disability.
Women with disabilities were also more likely to have severe or very severe disabilities compared to men. On the other hand, men were more likely to have moderate or mild disabilities than their female counterparts.
As the population ages and women live longer, these disabilities reduce their quality of life. The elderly also tend to have fewer social and economic resources to deal with these problems.
6. In the 25 to 64-year-old age group, persons with disabilities are less likely to be employed than those without disabilities
In these critical income-earning years for working-age adults, more than 40% of disabled people don’t have employment. Only 20% of those without disabilities aren’t part of the labour force. As a result, the average income for people with severe disabilities ($19,160) is half of what it is for people without disabilities ($38,980).
7. People with more severe disabilities in the 25 to 64-year-old age group are more likely to be living below the poverty line than those without disabilities or milder disabilities
28% of people with severe disabilities in this age group live below the poverty line, while only 10% of those without disabilities and 14% of those with milder disabilities do so.
The measure of poverty is based on the cost of a basket of goods (e.g. food, shelter, clothing) representing a basic standard of living in a given region and family size. The disposable income of a family is compared to this cost to determine if the family is at, above, or below the poverty line.
The rate of low income for working-age adults with severe disabilities is double that of those with milder disabilities and triple that of those without disabilities.
The Canadian Survey on Disability is not the only one in Canada that attempted to shed light on disability statistics in Canada. RBC commissioned Ipsos to conduct a survey in 2014 and 2015 to gauge Canadians’ opinions on matters relating to disability. Here are its findings.
8. 96% of Canadians believe that a disability can occur at any time
However, they only believe they have a 7% chance of a disability. In fact, one in three will experience a period of disability longer than 90 days during their working lives. So there’s a substantial disconnect between what Canadians believe and what actually happens.
9. 43% of Canadian working households have had someone take time off work because of a disability
The income interruption meant that 29% had to dip into savings to pay for expenses, 17% took on more debt, 17% borrowed from family and friends, and 9% cashed in RRSPs to make ends meet.
10. 25% agree that disability is the result of not being careful
Yet less than 10% of disabilities are caused by accidents. Illnesses like mental health disorders and musculoskeletal diseases are six times more likely to cause a disability. Being careful won’t prevent these types of disabilities from occurring.
Disability Statistics For Claims
When it comes to disability insurance, the disability types that cause claims are important to know. Here are some shocking disability statistics from claims received by RBC Insurance between 2014 and 2017.
11. Less than 10% of disabilities are caused by accidents like workplace and car accidents
Did you think that accidents make up the majority of disability claims? If so, you will be shocked to find out that they only account for 10%.
Mental health-related disabilities, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and musculoskeletal diseases such as arthritis cause many more disabilities than accidents. As a matter of fact, these diseases are six times more likely to cause a disability.
12. At 22%, the most common cause of disability claims is mental health-related disabilities
The most prevalent disability type is mental health-related disabilities. These include but are not limited to depression, anxiety, burnout, stress, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and schizophrenia.
Musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 19%. These include injuries or diseases of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs.
Third on the list was cancer at 14%. While cancer itself can be disabling, treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can also affect your ability to work.
13. One in six disability claims are made by someone under the age of 40
As you can see, disabilities don’t only affect the elderly. The younger population isn’t immune to suffering disabilities either. Since they have their whole working lives ahead of them, they stand to lose the most in the event of a long-term disability.
The prevalence of disability in the 50-59 age group was the largest, accounting for 38% of all claims. One-quarter of claims are made by the 40-49 age group, followed closely by the 60 and over age group with 22% of claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of the Canadian population is disabled?
The 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability revealed that 22% of Canadians aged 15 years and older had at least one disability. That’s more than one in five people age 15 and older living with a disability.
How many people in Canada have a disability?
As of 2017, 6.2 million Canadians age 15 and older live with a disability. That number will only grow as the Canadian population ages since the prevalence of disability rises with age.
What are the most common disabilities in Canada?
The most common disability type in Canada is pain-related, which accounts for 14.5% of all disabilities in those aged 15 and older. Flexibility made up 10% of disabilities, while mobility (9.6%) rounds out the top three. Mental health-related disabilities are next on the list with 7.2%, although they lead in disability insurance claims, accounting for 22% of all claims.
Conclusion
With so many people suffering from at least one disability worldwide, it’s no wonder disabled people are the largest minority group globally. And as the Canadian Survey on Disability from Statistics Canada shows, disabled people earn much less than those without disabilities.
Knowing that, what can you do to protect your income while you’re healthy? One of the most crucial thing you can do is to buy long-term disability insurance. This pays a monthly benefit if you can’t work due to an injury or illness. With the financial support of the insurance payout, you can focus on recovery and getting back to work.
One last statistic to throw at you: the length of the average disability that lasts at least 90 days is 2.1 to 3.2 years. Can you and your family survive that long without an income?
Contact us at info@briansoinsurance.com or 604-928-1628 today for a complimentary consultation on how to get you the best disability insurance policy.
Get Your Disability Insurance Quote Now
While we make every effort to keep our site updated, please be aware that timely information on this page, such as quote estimates, or pertinent details about companies, may only be accurate as of its last edit day. Brian So Insurance and its representatives do not give legal or tax advice. Please consult your own legal or tax adviser. This post is a brief summary for indicative purposes only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and other provisions of the policies described, some of which may be material to the policy selection. Please refer to the actual policy documents for complete details which can be provided upon request. In case of any discrepancy, the language in the actual policy documents will prevail. A.M. Best financial strength ratings displayed are not a warranty of a company’s financial strength and ability to meet its obligations to policyholders.
