Approximately 13.5% Of U.S. Civilians Report One Or More Disabilities

Approximately 44.68 million U.S. civilians of all ages living in the community reported one or more disabilities in 2023, representing 13.5% of the noninstitutionalized population. Among adults aged 18 and older, the rate rises to approximately 16%.

The analysis is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey (ACS), which reaches approximately 4.7 million people annually with a response rate of about 85%.

The most commonly reported disability type was ambulatory disability, or difficulty with walking or physical movement, affecting 6.3% of the population (approximately 20.78 million people . . .