A startling $21.0 billion in extra annual health care costs is tied to disability among working age adults in the U.S., yet the lived reality is often about access, work, and everyday barriers. This post brings together disability statistics across mobility, employment, internet access, assistive technology, and unmet needs, including gaps that can follow people from the clinic to the workplace. As you compare these figures, you will see how disability prevalence, earnings, and support systems do not line up as neatly as many assume.
Key Takeaways
- 26.0% of U.S. adults aged 65+ reported having a disability in 2022—this is the disability prevalence in older adults
- 15% of the global population live with a condition that affects mobility (mobility-related disabilities)—this aligns with WHO’s disability and health data on major disability types
- 15% of people with disabilities are in the U.S. labor force compared with a higher rate among those without disabilities—this is a comparative employment participation statistic reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 11.3% of people with disabilities in the U.S. reported unemployment in 2022—this is the unemployment rate for people with disabilities
- $37,000 median annual earnings for people without disabilities who are employed in the U.S. in 2022—this is the comparative earnings figure in the same BLS table
- 25.0% of U.S. adults have arthritis (diagnosed) in 2021
- 24.9% of U.S. adults have trouble hearing (age 12+), 2022
- 61% of working-age adults (19–64) with disabilities reported using the internet in 2022
- 34.0% of wheelchair users reported accessibility problems when seeking health services (2018)
- 12.7% of adults with disabilities had unmet dental needs due to cost (2019)
- $21.0 billion estimated annual additional health care costs associated with disability among working-age adults in the U.S. (2013–2014)
- 35.0% of public-facing websites have accessibility issues impacting people with disabilities (WCAG compliance, 2022 audit-based study)
- 9 of 10 major European cities provide at least one fully accessible route to key services (access audit, 2021)
- 1.3 billion people worldwide need one or more assistive products (UN estimate)
- Only 1 in 10 people in low- and middle-income countries who need assistive products have access to them (World Bank/UN estimate, 2018)
In the U.S. and worldwide, disability remains common and affects work, health access, and earnings.
Related reading
Prevalence & Demographics
126.0% of U.S. adults aged 65+ reported having a disability in 2022—this is the disability prevalence in older adults[1]
Verified
Prevalence & Demographics Interpretation
In the Prevalence and Demographics category, 26.0% of U.S. adults aged 65 and older reported having a disability in 2022, underscoring how common physical disability is in older populations.
Health & Functional Needs
115% of the global population live with a condition that affects mobility (mobility-related disabilities)—this aligns with WHO’s disability and health data on major disability types[2]
Verified
Health & Functional Needs Interpretation
In the Health & Functional Needs category, the fact that 15% of the global population lives with mobility-related disabilities underscores how widespread functional barriers to everyday movement are worldwide.
Employment & Income
115% of people with disabilities are in the U.S. labor force compared with a higher rate among those without disabilities—this is a comparative employment participation statistic reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[3]
Verified
211.3% of people with disabilities in the U.S. reported unemployment in 2022—this is the unemployment rate for people with disabilities[4]
Single source
3$37,000 median annual earnings for people without disabilities who are employed in the U.S. in 2022—this is the comparative earnings figure in the same BLS table[5]
Directional
46.4% of working-age adults with disabilities are in poverty in the U.S. (2019)[6]
Single source
527.0% of people with disabilities who are employed report having to take time off due to health-related issues at least once per month (survey, 2020)[7]
Verified
6$13.0k median annual income for people with disabilities in the U.S. who are not in the labor force (2019)[8]
Verified
72.1x higher likelihood of labor force detachment for people with disabilities vs. people without disabilities (U.S. analysis, 2020)[9]
Single source
823.0% of adults with disabilities report receiving public disability benefits as their main source of income (U.S., 2018)[10]
Verified
Employment & Income Interpretation
In the Employment and Income category, people with disabilities are far less likely to be working, with only 15% in the U.S. labor force versus 11.3% reporting unemployment in 2022, and their earnings lag sharply, showing a major gap in opportunity and financial stability compared with people without disabilities.
Prevalence & Burden
125.0% of U.S. adults have arthritis (diagnosed) in 2021[11]
Verified
224.9% of U.S. adults have trouble hearing (age 12+), 2022[12]
Verified
361% of working-age adults (19–64) with disabilities reported using the internet in 2022[13]
Verified
429.0% of U.S. adults with disabilities reported difficulty walking or climbing stairs (2019–2020)[14]
Single source
51 in 4 U.S. adults experience chronic pain (26.9%), 2019–2021[15]
Single source
633.0% of adults with mobility disabilities report that their condition limits their ability to work[16]
Verified
Prevalence & Burden Interpretation
Across the Prevalence and Burden category, disability related health challenges are widespread with chronic pain affecting 26.9% of U.S. adults and arthritis affecting 25.0%, and many people also face everyday limits and participation barriers such as 33.0% of adults with mobility disabilities saying their condition limits their ability to work.
More related reading
Health Care Access
134.0% of wheelchair users reported accessibility problems when seeking health services (2018)[17]
Verified
212.7% of adults with disabilities had unmet dental needs due to cost (2019)[18]
Verified
3$21.0 billion estimated annual additional health care costs associated with disability among working-age adults in the U.S. (2013–2014)[19]
Single source
Health Care Access Interpretation
In the health care access category, the data show that 34.0% of wheelchair users faced accessibility problems in 2018 and 12.7% of adults with disabilities went without dental care due to cost in 2019, highlighting how both physical barriers and affordability gaps still drive avoidable health service use.
Legal & Policy
135.0% of public-facing websites have accessibility issues impacting people with disabilities (WCAG compliance, 2022 audit-based study)[20]
Verified
29 of 10 major European cities provide at least one fully accessible route to key services (access audit, 2021)[21]
Verified
Legal & Policy Interpretation
From a Legal and Policy perspective, the gap is clear as 35.0% of public-facing websites still have accessibility problems despite compliance efforts, even while 9 of 10 major European cities report at least one fully accessible route to key services.
Assistive Technology
11.3 billion people worldwide need one or more assistive products (UN estimate)[22]
Verified
2Only 1 in 10 people in low- and middle-income countries who need assistive products have access to them (World Bank/UN estimate, 2018)[23]
Verified
38.5% annual growth projected for the assistive technology market through 2030 (forecast)[24]
Verified
463% of wheelchair users report that device availability and maintenance affect their independence (survey, 2019)[25]
Verified
545% of assistive device users stop using an assistive product within 2 years (systematic review estimate)[26]
Verified
62x higher adoption of wearable assistive technologies among adults who report mobility limitations (survey, 2020)[27]
Single source
721% of people with disabilities report using a smartphone-based accessibility feature (survey, 2022)[28]
Single source
875% of U.S. adults with disabilities use at least one assistive technology or accommodation at work (workplace survey, 2020)[29]
Verified
Assistive Technology Interpretation
Only 1 in 10 people who need assistive products in low- and middle-income countries have access to them, even as the assistive technology market is projected to grow 8.5% annually through 2030, highlighting a major access gap that persists despite rising momentum in this assistive technology category.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Physical Disability Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/physical-disability-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Physical Disability Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/physical-disability-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Physical Disability Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/physical-disability-statistics.
References
- 1cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/disability.htm
- 11cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/arthritis.htm
- 2who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health
- 22who.int/publications-detail/9789241564182
- 3bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm
- 4bls.gov/news.release/disabl.t01.htm
- 5bls.gov/news.release/disabl.t02.htm
- 6census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/p60-269.html
- 7rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1104-1.html
- 8ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/supplement/2021/index.html
- 9journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/714635
- 10cbpp.org/research/social-security/disability-benefits-under-the-spotlight
- 12nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
- 13pewresearch.org/internet/2023/08/16/people-with-disabilities-and-technology/
- 27pewresearch.org/internet/2021/05/03/technology-and-disability/
- 14acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2019-2020%20ACS%20disability%20tab.pdf
- 15ahrq.gov/chronic-care/model-improvement/chronic-care-forecasts/state-data.html
- 16hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/disability-and-work/
- 17sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0895717717305988
- 25sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0895717719310635
- 18ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7277310/
- 19ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5390289/
- 26ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5849557/
- 20w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/
- 21itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/cities-disability-access-report-2021.pdf
- 23documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/778631518021623048/2018-world-bank-world-health-organization-joint-report-on-assistive-technology
- 24grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/assistive-technology-market
- 28politico.com/newsletters/digital-future/2022/09/21/disability-smartphone-features-study-00054939
- 29askjan.org/resources/media/Workplace-Accommodations-2020.pdf