GITNUXREPORT 2025

Disability Discrimination Statistics

Disability discrimination causes economic loss, limits access, and hinders inclusion worldwide.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Accessibility barriers prevent nearly 1 billion people globally from accessing education, employment, and health services

Statistic 2

56% of students with disabilities in the US experience some form of discrimination at school

Statistic 3

Accessibility restrictions limit the participation of persons with disabilities in civic and community activities by 30-50%

Statistic 4

Nearly 60% of children with disabilities worldwide do not attend school, due to discrimination and lack of accessible infrastructure

Statistic 5

Studies indicate that only 20-30% of media coverage about disability portrays disability positively, contributing to stigma and discrimination

Statistic 6

People with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to those without disabilities

Statistic 7

In the United States, 61% of adults with disabilities are employed, compared to 72% of those without disabilities

Statistic 8

Nearly 50% of adults with disabilities in the U.S. reported experiencing discrimination in employment

Statistic 9

The employment rate for persons with disabilities in the European Union is approximately 48%, compared to 75% for those without disabilities

Statistic 10

Only 44% of workplaces in the UK are fully accessible for employees with disabilities

Statistic 11

Disability bias is a leading reason for workplace discrimination complaints, accounting for 24% of all discrimination charges in the US

Statistic 12

In the UK, roughly 52% of working-age disabled people are employed, significantly lower than the 81% for non-disabled people

Statistic 13

Studies show that implementing accessible technology in workplaces increases productivity by 15% on average

Statistic 14

80% of jobs are filled through informal networks, which often exclude people with disabilities

Statistic 15

The unemployment rate among persons with mental health disabilities is approximately 50%, higher than the overall disability unemployment average

Statistic 16

Only 5-15% of workplaces globally have adopted comprehensive disability inclusion policies, indicating a significant compliance gap

Statistic 17

Discrimination incidents reported in the workplace have increased by 10% during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to recent surveys

Statistic 18

65% of businesses report that they do not have sufficient training on disability awareness and inclusion, leading to higher risk of unintentional discrimination

Statistic 19

Only about 10% of workplace recruitment materials are accessible to persons with disabilities, limiting employment opportunities

Statistic 20

The global economic loss due to disability discrimination is estimated to be trillions of dollars annually, due to lost productivity and exclusion

Statistic 21

The global cost of inaccessible infrastructure in healthcare, transportation, and public spaces is estimated to be over $10 trillion annually, due to inefficiencies and economic losses

Statistic 22

The presence of disability discrimination in public transportation leads to 25% of persons with disabilities avoiding travel altogether, impacting independence and economic participation

Statistic 23

Approximately 15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability

Statistic 24

Disabled people are three times more likely to experience violence and abuse

Statistic 25

Around 70% of people with disabilities in developing countries do not have access to adequate healthcare

Statistic 26

Around 14% of the world's population has some form of hearing impairment, yet many do not have access to appropriate services

Statistic 27

People with disabilities are more likely to live in rural areas, facing compounded discrimination and limited access to services

Statistic 28

People with disabilities are 2.5 times more likely to live in overcrowded or inadequate housing, exposing them to increased hazards

Statistic 29

Approximately 1 billion people worldwide have some form of disability, with many facing barriers in employment, education, and access

Statistic 30

The cost of assistive devices and technologies remains a major barrier, with only 5% of persons who need them able to afford appropriate solutions

Statistic 31

Disability discrimination in healthcare settings results in higher rates of untreated health conditions among persons with disabilities, with some studies indicating up to 30% of unmet health needs

Statistic 32

People with disabilities face higher poverty rates, with 25% living below the national poverty line, compared to 15% of those without disabilities

Statistic 33

Only 1 in 4 people with disabilities in the workforce report their disability to employers due to fear of discrimination

Statistic 34

In many countries, laws against discrimination on the grounds of disability are not effectively enforced, leading to persistent inequality

Statistic 35

The proportion of women with disabilities experiencing gender-based violence is higher than that of women without disabilities, at approximately 81%

Statistic 36

Children's access to early intervention services for disabilities is limited in many regions, with less than half receiving adequate support, due to discrimination and resource gaps

Statistic 37

Over 80% of disability lawsuits in some countries are settled out of court, indicating reluctance or inability to pursue legal action

Statistic 38

People with disabilities are less likely to have access to digital technologies and the internet, with only around 40% online, compared to 77% of the general population

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Key Highlights

  • Approximately 15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability
  • People with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to those without disabilities
  • In the United States, 61% of adults with disabilities are employed, compared to 72% of those without disabilities
  • Nearly 50% of adults with disabilities in the U.S. reported experiencing discrimination in employment
  • Accessibility barriers prevent nearly 1 billion people globally from accessing education, employment, and health services
  • The employment rate for persons with disabilities in the European Union is approximately 48%, compared to 75% for those without disabilities
  • Disabled people are three times more likely to experience violence and abuse
  • Only 44% of workplaces in the UK are fully accessible for employees with disabilities
  • Around 70% of people with disabilities in developing countries do not have access to adequate healthcare
  • 56% of students with disabilities in the US experience some form of discrimination at school
  • People with disabilities face higher poverty rates, with 25% living below the national poverty line, compared to 15% of those without disabilities
  • Only 1 in 4 people with disabilities in the workforce report their disability to employers due to fear of discrimination
  • Disability bias is a leading reason for workplace discrimination complaints, accounting for 24% of all discrimination charges in the US

Did you know that over 1 billion people worldwide face pervasive barriers due to disability discrimination, which not only hampers their access to education, employment, and healthcare but also costs the global economy trillions annually?

Education and Social Inclusion

  • Accessibility barriers prevent nearly 1 billion people globally from accessing education, employment, and health services
  • 56% of students with disabilities in the US experience some form of discrimination at school
  • Accessibility restrictions limit the participation of persons with disabilities in civic and community activities by 30-50%
  • Nearly 60% of children with disabilities worldwide do not attend school, due to discrimination and lack of accessible infrastructure
  • Studies indicate that only 20-30% of media coverage about disability portrays disability positively, contributing to stigma and discrimination

Education and Social Inclusion Interpretation

These disheartening statistics reveal that accessibility barriers not only bar nearly a billion people from essential opportunities but also perpetuate harmful stereotypes, highlighting a urgent need for society to bridge the gap between policy and perception.

Employment

  • People with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to those without disabilities
  • In the United States, 61% of adults with disabilities are employed, compared to 72% of those without disabilities
  • Nearly 50% of adults with disabilities in the U.S. reported experiencing discrimination in employment
  • The employment rate for persons with disabilities in the European Union is approximately 48%, compared to 75% for those without disabilities
  • Only 44% of workplaces in the UK are fully accessible for employees with disabilities
  • Disability bias is a leading reason for workplace discrimination complaints, accounting for 24% of all discrimination charges in the US
  • In the UK, roughly 52% of working-age disabled people are employed, significantly lower than the 81% for non-disabled people
  • Studies show that implementing accessible technology in workplaces increases productivity by 15% on average
  • 80% of jobs are filled through informal networks, which often exclude people with disabilities
  • The unemployment rate among persons with mental health disabilities is approximately 50%, higher than the overall disability unemployment average
  • Only 5-15% of workplaces globally have adopted comprehensive disability inclusion policies, indicating a significant compliance gap
  • Discrimination incidents reported in the workplace have increased by 10% during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to recent surveys
  • 65% of businesses report that they do not have sufficient training on disability awareness and inclusion, leading to higher risk of unintentional discrimination
  • Only about 10% of workplace recruitment materials are accessible to persons with disabilities, limiting employment opportunities

Employment Interpretation

Despite representing nearly one in ten workers globally, individuals with disabilities face a stark employment gap, with only about half being employed, because workplace policies remain fractured by bias, inaccessible environments, and systemic exclusion—transforming potential talent into untapped opportunity.

Employment, Income, and Economic Impact

  • The global economic loss due to disability discrimination is estimated to be trillions of dollars annually, due to lost productivity and exclusion
  • The global cost of inaccessible infrastructure in healthcare, transportation, and public spaces is estimated to be over $10 trillion annually, due to inefficiencies and economic losses
  • The presence of disability discrimination in public transportation leads to 25% of persons with disabilities avoiding travel altogether, impacting independence and economic participation

Employment, Income, and Economic Impact Interpretation

Disability discrimination isn't just morally wrong—it's a trillion-dollar economic oversight that impoverishes both lives and national coffers by fueling exclusion, inefficiency, and missed opportunities for all.

Health and Healthcare Accessibility

  • Approximately 15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability
  • Disabled people are three times more likely to experience violence and abuse
  • Around 70% of people with disabilities in developing countries do not have access to adequate healthcare
  • Around 14% of the world's population has some form of hearing impairment, yet many do not have access to appropriate services
  • People with disabilities are more likely to live in rural areas, facing compounded discrimination and limited access to services
  • People with disabilities are 2.5 times more likely to live in overcrowded or inadequate housing, exposing them to increased hazards
  • Approximately 1 billion people worldwide have some form of disability, with many facing barriers in employment, education, and access
  • The cost of assistive devices and technologies remains a major barrier, with only 5% of persons who need them able to afford appropriate solutions
  • Disability discrimination in healthcare settings results in higher rates of untreated health conditions among persons with disabilities, with some studies indicating up to 30% of unmet health needs

Health and Healthcare Accessibility Interpretation

With over a billion people worldwide facing compounded barriers—from violence and inadequate healthcare to inaccessible technology—disability discrimination remains a pervasive crisis demanding urgent global action to transform neglect into empowerment.

Income, and Economic Impact

  • People with disabilities face higher poverty rates, with 25% living below the national poverty line, compared to 15% of those without disabilities

Income, and Economic Impact Interpretation

The stark reality is that while disabilities may not be a choice, the poverty gap they face—from 15% to 25% living below the national line—remains a troubling reminder that inclusion and equitable support are long overdue.

Legal Frameworks and Discrimination

  • Only 1 in 4 people with disabilities in the workforce report their disability to employers due to fear of discrimination
  • In many countries, laws against discrimination on the grounds of disability are not effectively enforced, leading to persistent inequality
  • The proportion of women with disabilities experiencing gender-based violence is higher than that of women without disabilities, at approximately 81%
  • Children's access to early intervention services for disabilities is limited in many regions, with less than half receiving adequate support, due to discrimination and resource gaps
  • Over 80% of disability lawsuits in some countries are settled out of court, indicating reluctance or inability to pursue legal action

Legal Frameworks and Discrimination Interpretation

Despite legal protections, a fragile silence persists around disability in the workforce and beyond, as fear, inadequate enforcement, and systemic gaps continue to silence and marginalize (81%) women with disabilities facing violence, limit children's early interventions, and keep most disputes hidden behind settlement doors rather than justice.

Technology, Infrastructure, and Support Services

  • People with disabilities are less likely to have access to digital technologies and the internet, with only around 40% online, compared to 77% of the general population

Technology, Infrastructure, and Support Services Interpretation

Despite the digital age promising universal connectivity, the stark divide reveals that over half of people with disabilities remain offline, highlighting not just a digital gap but a profound inequality in access and opportunity.