GITNUXREPORT 2025

Disability Abuse Statistics

Disability abuse is widespread, underreported, mainly committed by known perpetrators.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Abuse is the leading cause of injury death among women with disabilities

Statistic 2

Abuse against individuals with disabilities often goes unnoticed because of communication barriers

Statistic 3

Foster care children with disabilities are three times more likely to be abused than their non-disabled counterparts

Statistic 4

75% of abuse cases against people with intellectual disabilities are perpetrated by a caregiver or family member

Statistic 5

People with mental health disabilities are significantly more vulnerable to abuse, especially neglect and exploitation, with reports showing increased victimization rates

Statistic 6

People with disabilities face greater challenges in escaping abusive situations due to dependency on caregivers

Statistic 7

The economic costs of disability abuse, including healthcare and legal expenses, are estimated to be in the billions annually

Statistic 8

Abuse often results in long-term psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, in victims with disabilities

Statistic 9

People with disabilities are often excluded from protective laws and policies, leaving them vulnerable to abuse

Statistic 10

Reports suggest that disability-related abuse is significantly underfunded in social service and protection programs, limiting prevention efforts

Statistic 11

People with sensory disabilities, such as hearing or vision loss, face unique risks of abuse due to communication barriers

Statistic 12

Victims with disabilities who experience abuse often suffer from long-term health issues, including chronic pain and disability exacerbation, according to healthcare studies

Statistic 13

Survivors often experience re-victimization due to lack of adequate protective measures, with a significant percentage reporting ongoing abuse

Statistic 14

Economic dependency often traps victims with disabilities in abusive situations, making escape or assistance difficult

Statistic 15

The use of technology and surveillance in care settings can help prevent disability abuse, but privacy concerns limit implementation

Statistic 16

Approximately 70% of abuse against individuals with disabilities is committed by people they know

Statistic 17

People with disabilities are twice as likely to experience domestic violence compared to those without disabilities

Statistic 18

81% of women with disabilities have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime

Statistic 19

Nearly 90% of caregivers of individuals with disabilities report some form of abuse or neglect

Statistic 20

People with disabilities are 1.5 times more likely to experience neglect, physical abuse, or verbal abuse than people without disabilities

Statistic 21

60% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced abuse at some point in their lives

Statistic 22

Over 50% of reported cases of abuse against children with disabilities involve sexual abuse

Statistic 23

Approximately 60% of people with disabilities who experience abuse are victimized multiple times

Statistic 24

65% of women with disabilities report experiencing some type of physical or sexual violence

Statistic 25

Nearly 60% of reported abuse incidents against people with disabilities involve financial exploitation

Statistic 26

Persons with disabilities are at a higher risk of being victimized by hate crimes, with reports indicating a 2.6-fold increase

Statistic 27

Youth with disabilities are twice as likely to experience physical violence compared to peers without disabilities

Statistic 28

Children with disabilities are 3.6 times more likely to experience maltreatment than children without disabilities

Statistic 29

They are four times more likely to experience neglect, physical abuse, and emotional abuse

Statistic 30

The prevalence of abuse in institutional settings is significantly higher than in community settings, with reports indicating up to 80%

Statistic 31

Abuse reports against individuals with disabilities tend to be under-recorded, with official reports capturing only a fraction of actual cases

Statistic 32

The risk of abuse increases for seniors with disabilities, with some estimates showing over 60% of elder abuse cases involving individuals with disabilities

Statistic 33

Women with disabilities are at a higher risk of experiencing intimate partner violence, with prevalence rates up to 70%

Statistic 34

Abuse in residential care facilities accounts for roughly 75% of all reported disability abuse cases, with high rates of physical and sexual violence

Statistic 35

The majority of perpetrators of disability abuse are known to the victims, including family members and caregivers

Statistic 36

There is a significant gap in research and data collection on disability abuse globally, impeding the development of effective policies

Statistic 37

Only about 4% of abuse incidents against individuals with disabilities are reported to the authorities

Statistic 38

People with disabilities are more likely to experience barriers that prevent reporting abuse, such as lack of accessible reporting mechanisms

Statistic 39

Only 10% of victims of disability abuse report it to the police or other authorities

Statistic 40

Only 20% of disabled victims of abuse seek help due to fear of disbelief or institutionalization

Statistic 41

Access to support services for victims of disability abuse is limited, with over 50% of victims reporting difficulty accessing help

Statistic 42

Public awareness campaigns about disability abuse are still limited, leading to low social recognition of the severity of the issue

Statistic 43

Many victims of disability abuse have difficulty accessing justice due to lack of accessible legal procedures

Statistic 44

Training law enforcement and care staff specifically about disability-related abuse improves reporting and prevention, with studies indicating a significant positive impact

Statistic 45

The majority of abuse cases against children with disabilities remain uninvestigated, often because of systemic shortcomings

Statistic 46

In many countries, disability abuse training is not mandated for caregivers or law enforcement, contributing to low detection and reporting

Statistic 47

Only about 15% of disability abuse incidents are ever formally documented, due to systemic barriers

Statistic 48

Cultural beliefs and stigma can discourage victims from reporting abuse, especially in communities with strong taboos around disability

Slide 1 of 48

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

Approximately 70% of abuse against individuals with disabilities is committed by people they know
Only about 4% of abuse incidents against individuals with disabilities are reported to the authorities
People with disabilities are twice as likely to experience domestic violence compared to those without disabilities
81% of women with disabilities have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime
Abuse is the leading cause of injury death among women with disabilities
Nearly 90% of caregivers of individuals with disabilities report some form of abuse or neglect
People with disabilities are 1.5 times more likely to experience neglect, physical abuse, or verbal abuse than people without disabilities
60% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced abuse at some point in their lives
Over 50% of reported cases of abuse against children with disabilities involve sexual abuse
People with disabilities are more likely to experience barriers that prevent reporting abuse, such as lack of accessible reporting mechanisms
Only 10% of victims of disability abuse report it to the police or other authorities
Abuse against individuals with disabilities often goes unnoticed because of communication barriers
Approximately 60% of people with disabilities who experience abuse are victimized multiple times

Despite heartbreaking statistics revealing that nearly 80% of abuse against individuals with disabilities goes unreported, the pervasive and hidden nature of disability abuse demands urgent attention and systemic reforms to protect vulnerable lives.

Impact and Consequences of Disability Abuse

Abuse is the leading cause of injury death among women with disabilities
Abuse against individuals with disabilities often goes unnoticed because of communication barriers
Foster care children with disabilities are three times more likely to be abused than their non-disabled counterparts
75% of abuse cases against people with intellectual disabilities are perpetrated by a caregiver or family member
People with mental health disabilities are significantly more vulnerable to abuse, especially neglect and exploitation, with reports showing increased victimization rates
People with disabilities face greater challenges in escaping abusive situations due to dependency on caregivers
The economic costs of disability abuse, including healthcare and legal expenses, are estimated to be in the billions annually
Abuse often results in long-term psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, in victims with disabilities
People with disabilities are often excluded from protective laws and policies, leaving them vulnerable to abuse
Reports suggest that disability-related abuse is significantly underfunded in social service and protection programs, limiting prevention efforts
People with sensory disabilities, such as hearing or vision loss, face unique risks of abuse due to communication barriers
Victims with disabilities who experience abuse often suffer from long-term health issues, including chronic pain and disability exacerbation, according to healthcare studies
Survivors often experience re-victimization due to lack of adequate protective measures, with a significant percentage reporting ongoing abuse
Economic dependency often traps victims with disabilities in abusive situations, making escape or assistance difficult

Impact and Consequences of Disability Abuse Interpretation

Despite being some of the most vulnerable and overlooked members of society, individuals with disabilities face alarmingly higher risks of abuse—from lethal injury rates and underreported neglect to caregiver-perpetrated trauma—highlighting a critical failure in our protective laws, resources, and social awareness.

Institutional and Care Environment Factors

The use of technology and surveillance in care settings can help prevent disability abuse, but privacy concerns limit implementation

Institutional and Care Environment Factors Interpretation

While technology and surveillance hold promise in safeguarding disabled individuals from abuse, the tension with privacy rights poses a critical challenge to fully leveraging these protective tools.

Prevalence and Demographic Risk Factors

Approximately 70% of abuse against individuals with disabilities is committed by people they know
People with disabilities are twice as likely to experience domestic violence compared to those without disabilities
81% of women with disabilities have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime
Nearly 90% of caregivers of individuals with disabilities report some form of abuse or neglect
People with disabilities are 1.5 times more likely to experience neglect, physical abuse, or verbal abuse than people without disabilities
60% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced abuse at some point in their lives
Over 50% of reported cases of abuse against children with disabilities involve sexual abuse
Approximately 60% of people with disabilities who experience abuse are victimized multiple times
65% of women with disabilities report experiencing some type of physical or sexual violence
Nearly 60% of reported abuse incidents against people with disabilities involve financial exploitation
Persons with disabilities are at a higher risk of being victimized by hate crimes, with reports indicating a 2.6-fold increase
Youth with disabilities are twice as likely to experience physical violence compared to peers without disabilities
Children with disabilities are 3.6 times more likely to experience maltreatment than children without disabilities
They are four times more likely to experience neglect, physical abuse, and emotional abuse
The prevalence of abuse in institutional settings is significantly higher than in community settings, with reports indicating up to 80%
Abuse reports against individuals with disabilities tend to be under-recorded, with official reports capturing only a fraction of actual cases
The risk of abuse increases for seniors with disabilities, with some estimates showing over 60% of elder abuse cases involving individuals with disabilities
Women with disabilities are at a higher risk of experiencing intimate partner violence, with prevalence rates up to 70%
Abuse in residential care facilities accounts for roughly 75% of all reported disability abuse cases, with high rates of physical and sexual violence
The majority of perpetrators of disability abuse are known to the victims, including family members and caregivers
There is a significant gap in research and data collection on disability abuse globally, impeding the development of effective policies

Prevalence and Demographic Risk Factors Interpretation

The staggering prevalence of abuse against individuals with disabilities, often inflicted by trusted caregivers and perpetuated across institutional settings, underscores a distressing paradox: those most in need of protection are chronically undercounted and at heightened risk of repeated victimization, revealing both a profound societal failure and an urgent call for comprehensive, inclusive reform.

Reporting, Awareness, and Support Services

Only about 4% of abuse incidents against individuals with disabilities are reported to the authorities
People with disabilities are more likely to experience barriers that prevent reporting abuse, such as lack of accessible reporting mechanisms
Only 10% of victims of disability abuse report it to the police or other authorities
Only 20% of disabled victims of abuse seek help due to fear of disbelief or institutionalization
Access to support services for victims of disability abuse is limited, with over 50% of victims reporting difficulty accessing help
Public awareness campaigns about disability abuse are still limited, leading to low social recognition of the severity of the issue
Many victims of disability abuse have difficulty accessing justice due to lack of accessible legal procedures
Training law enforcement and care staff specifically about disability-related abuse improves reporting and prevention, with studies indicating a significant positive impact
The majority of abuse cases against children with disabilities remain uninvestigated, often because of systemic shortcomings
In many countries, disability abuse training is not mandated for caregivers or law enforcement, contributing to low detection and reporting
Only about 15% of disability abuse incidents are ever formally documented, due to systemic barriers

Reporting, Awareness, and Support Services Interpretation

Despite the alarming prevalence of abuse against individuals with disabilities, a stark silence persists—only a fraction of incidents are reported or documented—highlighting systemic gaps in accessibility, awareness, and justice that leave victims invisible and unprotected.

Societal, Cultural, and Economic Influences

Cultural beliefs and stigma can discourage victims from reporting abuse, especially in communities with strong taboos around disability

Societal, Cultural, and Economic Influences Interpretation

The silence surrounding disability abuse is often as much a product of cultural taboos as of the abuse itself, highlighting how stigma not only wounds but also muzzles the victims' voices.