GITNUXREPORT 2026

Children With Disabilities Statistics

Children with disabilities face global disparities in education, healthcare, and support systems.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Children with disabilities are 3-4 times more likely to be identified with a mental disorder than peers without disabilities

Statistic 2

In the US, only 61% of children with disabilities aged 6-14 attend school regularly, compared to 89% without

Statistic 3

Globally, children with disabilities are 2.5 times less likely to attend school than non-disabled peers

Statistic 4

In India, 36% of children with disabilities aged 5-19 have never attended school

Statistic 5

In the EU, 20% of children with disabilities leave education early compared to 9.6% without

Statistic 6

In Australia, 85% of children with disabilities attend mainstream schools, but 40% receive no adjustments

Statistic 7

In the UK, children with disabilities are twice as likely to be excluded from school

Statistic 8

In Brazil, 91% of children with disabilities are enrolled in school, but only 50% complete primary education

Statistic 9

In South Africa, 78% of children with disabilities aged 7-15 attend school

Statistic 10

In China, 95% of children with disabilities attend school, but dropout rate is 10% higher

Statistic 11

In the US, students with disabilities have a 70% graduation rate vs 89% overall

Statistic 12

In Nigeria, 60% of children with disabilities aged 6-17 are out of school

Statistic 13

In Canada, 12% of students with disabilities drop out before high school completion

Statistic 14

In Japan, 99% of children with disabilities receive special education support

Statistic 15

In Pakistan, 49% of children with disabilities aged 5-16 never attended school

Statistic 16

In Mexico, children with disabilities are 1.5 times more likely to repeat a grade

Statistic 17

In Russia, 70% of children with disabilities study in mainstream schools

Statistic 18

In Egypt, 40% of children with disabilities aged 6-15 are out of school

Statistic 19

In the Philippines, 75% of children with disabilities attend school, but learning outcomes lag by 30%

Statistic 20

In Indonesia, 55% of children with disabilities aged 7-12 are enrolled in primary school

Statistic 21

In Turkey, children with disabilities have a 25% higher absenteeism rate

Statistic 22

In France, 80% of children with disabilities are in inclusive education settings

Statistic 23

In Germany, 60% of students with disabilities attend special schools

Statistic 24

In Argentina, 30% of children with disabilities drop out before secondary school

Statistic 25

In Kenya, only 1 in 4 children with disabilities attends secondary school

Statistic 26

In Sweden, 95% of children with disabilities achieve basic proficiency levels

Statistic 27

In the US, 14% of students receive special education services under IDEA

Statistic 28

In Bangladesh, 62% of children with disabilities aged 5-17 are out of school

Statistic 29

Children with disabilities score 20-30 points lower on average in PISA reading tests

Statistic 30

In the US, 25% of children with disabilities experience bullying at school weekly

Statistic 31

Globally, 40% of children with disabilities never attend school

Statistic 32

Families of children with disabilities spend 3x more on healthcare out-of-pocket

Statistic 33

In the US, 27% of families with disabled children live in poverty vs 16% overall

Statistic 34

Globally, households with disabled children have 50% higher healthcare expenditures

Statistic 35

In India, 40% of parents of disabled children quit jobs to provide care

Statistic 36

In the EU, employment rate of mothers of disabled children is 20% lower

Statistic 37

In Australia, families with disabled children have median income 30% lower

Statistic 38

In the UK, 50% of families with disabled children face financial hardship

Statistic 39

In Brazil, sibling households with disabled children are 2x more likely to be poor

Statistic 40

In South Africa, 60% of families with disabled children rely on social grants

Statistic 41

In China, rural families with disabled children have 40% lower savings

Statistic 42

In the US, caregivers of disabled children lose $17 billion in wages annually

Statistic 43

In Nigeria, 70% of families with disabled children spend >20% income on care

Statistic 44

In Canada, 35% of parents reduce work hours for disabled child care

Statistic 45

In Japan, families with disabled children have 25% higher utility costs

Statistic 46

In Pakistan, divorce rates are 3x higher in families with disabled children

Statistic 47

In Mexico, informal care costs families 15% of GDP per capita

Statistic 48

In Russia, 45% of single-parent families with disabled children are low-income

Statistic 49

In Egypt, food insecurity affects 55% of households with disabled children

Statistic 50

In the Philippines, 50% of families borrow money for disabled child expenses

Statistic 51

In Indonesia, parental employment drops 28% after disabled child diagnosis

Statistic 52

In Turkey, housing costs for accessible homes are 40% higher for such families

Statistic 53

In France, 30% of families receive insufficient disability benefits

Statistic 54

In Germany, opportunity costs of caregiving total €27 billion yearly

Statistic 55

In Argentina, 65% of families face catastrophic health spending

Statistic 56

In Kenya, child labor increases 2x in families with disabled siblings

Statistic 57

In Sweden, parental leave extensions cost families 10% income loss

Statistic 58

In the US, 40% of uninsured children have disabilities

Statistic 59

In Bangladesh, 75% of families live below poverty line with disabled child

Statistic 60

Globally, siblings of disabled children have 20% higher depression rates

Statistic 61

Children with disabilities are 42% less likely to complete primary school in low-income countries

Statistic 62

In the US, 20% of children with disabilities have unmet healthcare needs due to cost

Statistic 63

Globally, children with disabilities are 3 times more likely to suffer from malnutrition

Statistic 64

In India, 50% of children with disabilities lack access to rehabilitation services

Statistic 65

In the EU, children with disabilities wait 6 months longer for specialist care

Statistic 66

In Australia, 30% of children with disabilities miss routine vaccinations

Statistic 67

In the UK, children with disabilities have 2.5 times higher hospitalization rates

Statistic 68

In Brazil, 40% of children with disabilities have no access to assistive devices

Statistic 69

In South Africa, HIV prevalence among children with disabilities is 3 times higher

Statistic 70

In China, 70% of children with disabilities receive regular medical check-ups

Statistic 71

In the US, children with disabilities are 4 times more likely to have emergency visits

Statistic 72

In Nigeria, 65% of children with disabilities lack basic healthcare access

Statistic 73

In Canada, wait times for pediatric specialists are 50% longer for disabled children

Statistic 74

In Japan, 90% of children with disabilities have health insurance coverage

Statistic 75

In Pakistan, only 20% of children with disabilities receive physiotherapy

Statistic 76

In Mexico, maternal health services reach 60% less for disabled children

Statistic 77

In Russia, mental health services for children with disabilities cover 45%

Statistic 78

In Egypt, 55% of children with disabilities have untreated vision problems

Statistic 79

In the Philippines, 35% of children with disabilities lack dental care

Statistic 80

In Indonesia, polio vaccination coverage for disabled children is 70% vs 95% overall

Statistic 81

In Turkey, children with disabilities have 2x higher chronic disease rates

Statistic 82

In France, 85% of children with disabilities access preventive care

Statistic 83

In Germany, rehabilitation services reach 75% of children with disabilities

Statistic 84

In Argentina, 50% of children with disabilities have unmet mental health needs

Statistic 85

In Kenya, only 10% of children with disabilities access assistive technology

Statistic 86

In Sweden, healthcare equity index for disabled children is 92%

Statistic 87

In the US, 1 in 4 children with disabilities has poor oral health

Statistic 88

In Bangladesh, 80% of children with disabilities lack surgical interventions needed

Statistic 89

Children with disabilities face 2x barriers to immunization in humanitarian settings

Statistic 90

85 countries have ratified UNCRPD with provisions for child disability support

Statistic 91

In the US, IDEA serves 7.3 million children with disabilities in schools

Statistic 92

Globally, only 50% of countries have inclusive education policies implemented

Statistic 93

In India, RPWD Act 2016 mandates 5% reservation for disabled children in education

Statistic 94

In the EU, 27 member states have national disability strategies including children

Statistic 95

In Australia, NDIS covers 500,000 children under 18 with disabilities

Statistic 96

In the UK, EHCP plans support 400,000 children with SEND

Statistic 97

In Brazil, BPC benefit reaches 1 million disabled children

Statistic 98

In South Africa, 1.2 million children receive child support grants including disability top-up

Statistic 99

In China, two-child policy exemptions for disabled families since 2016

Statistic 100

In the US, SSI provides benefits to 1.1 million disabled children

Statistic 101

In Nigeria, National Policy on Disability includes child-specific interventions

Statistic 102

In Canada, 13 provinces have early intervention programs for 0-6 year olds

Statistic 103

In Japan, Child Welfare Law provides subsidies to 300,000 families

Statistic 104

In Pakistan, 3% education quota for disabled children in public schools

Statistic 105

In Mexico, CONADIS policy covers 2.5 million disabled children services

Statistic 106

In Russia, Federal Law 181 guarantees free education for disabled children

Statistic 107

In Egypt, 100% Law mandates employment quotas including youth with disabilities

Statistic 108

In the Philippines, Magna Carta for Disabled Persons aids 1.5 million children

Statistic 109

In Indonesia, Disability Law 2016 funds 500,000 child assistive devices

Statistic 110

In Turkey, 2022-2026 Disability Strategy targets inclusive education for all children

Statistic 111

In France, PCH allocation supports 200,000 disabled children

Statistic 112

In Germany, SGB IX law mandates inclusion for 800,000 children

Statistic 113

In Argentina, National Disability Policy funds early intervention for 100,000 kids

Statistic 114

In Kenya, 10% budget allocation for disability programs including children

Statistic 115

In Sweden, LSS act provides personal assistance to 20,000 children

Statistic 116

In the US, ACA mandates coverage for pre-existing conditions in 90% of plans

Statistic 117

In Bangladesh, Disability Policy 2022 includes child stipend programs

Statistic 118

In the United States, 1 in 6 children aged 3–17 years has a developmental disability, including ADHD, autism, blindness, cerebral palsy, or epilepsy

Statistic 119

Globally, about 240 million children under 5 years have disabilities, representing nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide

Statistic 120

In low- and middle-income countries, 80% of children with disabilities live, facing higher risks of violence, abuse, and neglect

Statistic 121

In Europe, 15 million children have disabilities, with boys 1.5 times more likely than girls to be identified with disabilities

Statistic 122

In India, 2.21% of children aged 0-14 years have disabilities, totaling around 7.4 million children

Statistic 123

In Australia, 4.1% of children aged 0-14 years have a profound or severe disability

Statistic 124

In the UK, 1.1 million children have a disability, with 8% of all children under 16 affected

Statistic 125

In Brazil, 7.4 million children and adolescents aged 0-17 have disabilities

Statistic 126

In South Africa, 4.4% of children aged 5-17 have disabilities

Statistic 127

In China, over 4 million children under 14 have disabilities

Statistic 128

In the US, autism prevalence among 8-year-olds is 1 in 36, up from 1 in 150 in 2000

Statistic 129

Globally, 52 million children have hearing loss, with 60% in low- and middle-income countries

Statistic 130

In Nigeria, 3.2% of children aged 2-17 have disabilities

Statistic 131

In Canada, 3.7% of children aged 5-14 have disabilities

Statistic 132

In Japan, 3.5% of children in elementary school have disabilities requiring special support

Statistic 133

In the EU, 17% of children aged 6-17 report activity limitations due to health problems

Statistic 134

In Pakistan, 2.65% of children aged 5-14 have disabilities

Statistic 135

In Mexico, 5.3% of children under 15 have disabilities

Statistic 136

In Russia, 700,000 children have disabilities

Statistic 137

In Egypt, 15% of children aged 2-17 have functional difficulties

Statistic 138

In the Philippines, 4.1% of children aged 5-17 have disabilities

Statistic 139

In Indonesia, 1.94% of children under 19 have disabilities

Statistic 140

In Turkey, 2.9% of children aged 0-17 have disabilities

Statistic 141

In France, 300,000 children have disabilities

Statistic 142

In Germany, 7.6% of children under 18 have disabilities

Statistic 143

In Argentina, 12.4% of children aged 6-12 have disabilities

Statistic 144

In Kenya, 2.1% of children aged 5-17 have disabilities

Statistic 145

In Sweden, 2.5% of children aged 0-16 receive disability benefits

Statistic 146

In the US, 10.3% of children aged 5-17 have special health care needs

Statistic 147

In Bangladesh, 7.5% of children aged 5-17 have disabilities

1/147

Sources

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Beyond the sobering statistic that one in six children in the United States has a developmental disability lies a complex global reality of millions of young lives navigating education, healthcare, and societal barriers with resilience.

Key Takeaways

In the United States, 1 in 6 children aged 3–17 years has a developmental disability, including ADHD, autism, blindness, cerebral palsy, or epilepsy
Globally, about 240 million children under 5 years have disabilities, representing nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide
In low- and middle-income countries, 80% of children with disabilities live, facing higher risks of violence, abuse, and neglect
Children with disabilities are 3-4 times more likely to be identified with a mental disorder than peers without disabilities
In the US, only 61% of children with disabilities aged 6-14 attend school regularly, compared to 89% without
Globally, children with disabilities are 2.5 times less likely to attend school than non-disabled peers
Children with disabilities are 42% less likely to complete primary school in low-income countries
In the US, 20% of children with disabilities have unmet healthcare needs due to cost
Globally, children with disabilities are 3 times more likely to suffer from malnutrition
Families of children with disabilities spend 3x more on healthcare out-of-pocket
In the US, 27% of families with disabled children live in poverty vs 16% overall
Globally, households with disabled children have 50% higher healthcare expenditures
85 countries have ratified UNCRPD with provisions for child disability support
In the US, IDEA serves 7.3 million children with disabilities in schools
Globally, only 50% of countries have inclusive education policies implemented

Children with disabilities face global disparities in education, healthcare, and support systems.

Education and Schooling

Children with disabilities are 3-4 times more likely to be identified with a mental disorder than peers without disabilities
In the US, only 61% of children with disabilities aged 6-14 attend school regularly, compared to 89% without
Globally, children with disabilities are 2.5 times less likely to attend school than non-disabled peers
In India, 36% of children with disabilities aged 5-19 have never attended school
In the EU, 20% of children with disabilities leave education early compared to 9.6% without
In Australia, 85% of children with disabilities attend mainstream schools, but 40% receive no adjustments
In the UK, children with disabilities are twice as likely to be excluded from school
In Brazil, 91% of children with disabilities are enrolled in school, but only 50% complete primary education
In South Africa, 78% of children with disabilities aged 7-15 attend school
In China, 95% of children with disabilities attend school, but dropout rate is 10% higher
In the US, students with disabilities have a 70% graduation rate vs 89% overall
In Nigeria, 60% of children with disabilities aged 6-17 are out of school
In Canada, 12% of students with disabilities drop out before high school completion
In Japan, 99% of children with disabilities receive special education support
In Pakistan, 49% of children with disabilities aged 5-16 never attended school
In Mexico, children with disabilities are 1.5 times more likely to repeat a grade
In Russia, 70% of children with disabilities study in mainstream schools
In Egypt, 40% of children with disabilities aged 6-15 are out of school
In the Philippines, 75% of children with disabilities attend school, but learning outcomes lag by 30%
In Indonesia, 55% of children with disabilities aged 7-12 are enrolled in primary school
In Turkey, children with disabilities have a 25% higher absenteeism rate
In France, 80% of children with disabilities are in inclusive education settings
In Germany, 60% of students with disabilities attend special schools
In Argentina, 30% of children with disabilities drop out before secondary school
In Kenya, only 1 in 4 children with disabilities attends secondary school
In Sweden, 95% of children with disabilities achieve basic proficiency levels
In the US, 14% of students receive special education services under IDEA
In Bangladesh, 62% of children with disabilities aged 5-17 are out of school
Children with disabilities score 20-30 points lower on average in PISA reading tests
In the US, 25% of children with disabilities experience bullying at school weekly
Globally, 40% of children with disabilities never attend school

Education and Schooling Interpretation

While the global map of education for children with disabilities is a patchwork of fragile progress, it is consistently stained by the sobering reality that inclusion often remains a promise on paper rather than a practice in the classroom, leaving potential cruelly sidelined.

Family and Economic Impact

Families of children with disabilities spend 3x more on healthcare out-of-pocket
In the US, 27% of families with disabled children live in poverty vs 16% overall
Globally, households with disabled children have 50% higher healthcare expenditures
In India, 40% of parents of disabled children quit jobs to provide care
In the EU, employment rate of mothers of disabled children is 20% lower
In Australia, families with disabled children have median income 30% lower
In the UK, 50% of families with disabled children face financial hardship
In Brazil, sibling households with disabled children are 2x more likely to be poor
In South Africa, 60% of families with disabled children rely on social grants
In China, rural families with disabled children have 40% lower savings
In the US, caregivers of disabled children lose $17 billion in wages annually
In Nigeria, 70% of families with disabled children spend >20% income on care
In Canada, 35% of parents reduce work hours for disabled child care
In Japan, families with disabled children have 25% higher utility costs
In Pakistan, divorce rates are 3x higher in families with disabled children
In Mexico, informal care costs families 15% of GDP per capita
In Russia, 45% of single-parent families with disabled children are low-income
In Egypt, food insecurity affects 55% of households with disabled children
In the Philippines, 50% of families borrow money for disabled child expenses
In Indonesia, parental employment drops 28% after disabled child diagnosis
In Turkey, housing costs for accessible homes are 40% higher for such families
In France, 30% of families receive insufficient disability benefits
In Germany, opportunity costs of caregiving total €27 billion yearly
In Argentina, 65% of families face catastrophic health spending
In Kenya, child labor increases 2x in families with disabled siblings
In Sweden, parental leave extensions cost families 10% income loss
In the US, 40% of uninsured children have disabilities
In Bangladesh, 75% of families live below poverty line with disabled child
Globally, siblings of disabled children have 20% higher depression rates

Family and Economic Impact Interpretation

The world is burning the candle at both ends for disabled children, leaving their families financially gutted and emotionally bankrupt from a universal crisis we pretend is a private burden.

Healthcare Access

Children with disabilities are 42% less likely to complete primary school in low-income countries
In the US, 20% of children with disabilities have unmet healthcare needs due to cost
Globally, children with disabilities are 3 times more likely to suffer from malnutrition
In India, 50% of children with disabilities lack access to rehabilitation services
In the EU, children with disabilities wait 6 months longer for specialist care
In Australia, 30% of children with disabilities miss routine vaccinations
In the UK, children with disabilities have 2.5 times higher hospitalization rates
In Brazil, 40% of children with disabilities have no access to assistive devices
In South Africa, HIV prevalence among children with disabilities is 3 times higher
In China, 70% of children with disabilities receive regular medical check-ups
In the US, children with disabilities are 4 times more likely to have emergency visits
In Nigeria, 65% of children with disabilities lack basic healthcare access
In Canada, wait times for pediatric specialists are 50% longer for disabled children
In Japan, 90% of children with disabilities have health insurance coverage
In Pakistan, only 20% of children with disabilities receive physiotherapy
In Mexico, maternal health services reach 60% less for disabled children
In Russia, mental health services for children with disabilities cover 45%
In Egypt, 55% of children with disabilities have untreated vision problems
In the Philippines, 35% of children with disabilities lack dental care
In Indonesia, polio vaccination coverage for disabled children is 70% vs 95% overall
In Turkey, children with disabilities have 2x higher chronic disease rates
In France, 85% of children with disabilities access preventive care
In Germany, rehabilitation services reach 75% of children with disabilities
In Argentina, 50% of children with disabilities have unmet mental health needs
In Kenya, only 10% of children with disabilities access assistive technology
In Sweden, healthcare equity index for disabled children is 92%
In the US, 1 in 4 children with disabilities has poor oral health
In Bangladesh, 80% of children with disabilities lack surgical interventions needed
Children with disabilities face 2x barriers to immunization in humanitarian settings

Healthcare Access Interpretation

Behind every stark percentage lies a child for whom a manageable condition becomes a crisis, proving that our world's healthcare systems are not merely under-resourced but fundamentally unresponsive to those whose needs are greatest.

Policy and Interventions

85 countries have ratified UNCRPD with provisions for child disability support
In the US, IDEA serves 7.3 million children with disabilities in schools
Globally, only 50% of countries have inclusive education policies implemented
In India, RPWD Act 2016 mandates 5% reservation for disabled children in education
In the EU, 27 member states have national disability strategies including children
In Australia, NDIS covers 500,000 children under 18 with disabilities
In the UK, EHCP plans support 400,000 children with SEND
In Brazil, BPC benefit reaches 1 million disabled children
In South Africa, 1.2 million children receive child support grants including disability top-up
In China, two-child policy exemptions for disabled families since 2016
In the US, SSI provides benefits to 1.1 million disabled children
In Nigeria, National Policy on Disability includes child-specific interventions
In Canada, 13 provinces have early intervention programs for 0-6 year olds
In Japan, Child Welfare Law provides subsidies to 300,000 families
In Pakistan, 3% education quota for disabled children in public schools
In Mexico, CONADIS policy covers 2.5 million disabled children services
In Russia, Federal Law 181 guarantees free education for disabled children
In Egypt, 100% Law mandates employment quotas including youth with disabilities
In the Philippines, Magna Carta for Disabled Persons aids 1.5 million children
In Indonesia, Disability Law 2016 funds 500,000 child assistive devices
In Turkey, 2022-2026 Disability Strategy targets inclusive education for all children
In France, PCH allocation supports 200,000 disabled children
In Germany, SGB IX law mandates inclusion for 800,000 children
In Argentina, National Disability Policy funds early intervention for 100,000 kids
In Kenya, 10% budget allocation for disability programs including children
In Sweden, LSS act provides personal assistance to 20,000 children
In the US, ACA mandates coverage for pre-existing conditions in 90% of plans
In Bangladesh, Disability Policy 2022 includes child stipend programs

Policy and Interventions Interpretation

While the global patchwork of policies for children with disabilities shows promising, if uneven, progress—from reservations and quotas to comprehensive strategies and cash benefits—it ultimately reveals a world still learning that inclusion is not a privilege to be parceled out by nation, but a fundamental right to be uniformly built.

Prevalence and Incidence

In the United States, 1 in 6 children aged 3–17 years has a developmental disability, including ADHD, autism, blindness, cerebral palsy, or epilepsy
Globally, about 240 million children under 5 years have disabilities, representing nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide
In low- and middle-income countries, 80% of children with disabilities live, facing higher risks of violence, abuse, and neglect
In Europe, 15 million children have disabilities, with boys 1.5 times more likely than girls to be identified with disabilities
In India, 2.21% of children aged 0-14 years have disabilities, totaling around 7.4 million children
In Australia, 4.1% of children aged 0-14 years have a profound or severe disability
In the UK, 1.1 million children have a disability, with 8% of all children under 16 affected
In Brazil, 7.4 million children and adolescents aged 0-17 have disabilities
In South Africa, 4.4% of children aged 5-17 have disabilities
In China, over 4 million children under 14 have disabilities
In the US, autism prevalence among 8-year-olds is 1 in 36, up from 1 in 150 in 2000
Globally, 52 million children have hearing loss, with 60% in low- and middle-income countries
In Nigeria, 3.2% of children aged 2-17 have disabilities
In Canada, 3.7% of children aged 5-14 have disabilities
In Japan, 3.5% of children in elementary school have disabilities requiring special support
In the EU, 17% of children aged 6-17 report activity limitations due to health problems
In Pakistan, 2.65% of children aged 5-14 have disabilities
In Mexico, 5.3% of children under 15 have disabilities
In Russia, 700,000 children have disabilities
In Egypt, 15% of children aged 2-17 have functional difficulties
In the Philippines, 4.1% of children aged 5-17 have disabilities
In Indonesia, 1.94% of children under 19 have disabilities
In Turkey, 2.9% of children aged 0-17 have disabilities
In France, 300,000 children have disabilities
In Germany, 7.6% of children under 18 have disabilities
In Argentina, 12.4% of children aged 6-12 have disabilities
In Kenya, 2.1% of children aged 5-17 have disabilities
In Sweden, 2.5% of children aged 0-16 receive disability benefits
In the US, 10.3% of children aged 5-17 have special health care needs
In Bangladesh, 7.5% of children aged 5-17 have disabilities

Prevalence and Incidence Interpretation

While these statistics paint a global picture where childhood disability is not the exception but a common thread of human diversity, the sobering truth is that our world remains stubbornly stitched together for a mythical 'average' child, leaving millions to navigate a tapestry full of knots.

Sources & References

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