Disability in the EU: facts and figures

​Many people with disabilities still face barriers to access healthcare, education, jobs, leisure, and to participate in political life. Almost half of the EU population think that discrimination based on disability is widespread in their country.

The EU and its member states are working to ensure that all people with disabilities:

• enjoy their rights, including free movement
• can participate fully in society and the economy
• do not experience discrimination

How many people have a disability in the EU?

In 2024, 24% of the EU population over the age of 16 had some form of disability.

According to Eurostat estimates, that equals to 90 million people or one in four adults in the EU.

Percentage of people with a disability per country

The map below shows the percentage of people with a disability by country (data comes from Eurostat and refers to 2024). You can hover over the circles to find out the percentages for each EU member state. Latvia has the highest share of people with a disability (41.2%), followed by Finland (34.9%).

The older you get, the more likely to have a disability

This graph shows the share of people with disabilities by age group in 2024.

There are more women with a disability

In 2024, the share of women with disabilities was higher than that of men in all member states. In the EU, on average, 26.2% of the total female population has a disability, compared to 21.5% of the total male population.

Challenges people with disabilities face

1 in 2 feel discriminated against

Many people with disabilities are treated badly or unfairly because of their disability. In 2023, a Eurobarometer survey revealed that 54% of people with disabilities feel discriminated against.

17.7% of people with disabilities aged 20-26 were unemployed in 2020, compared with 8.6% of people without disabilities from the same age group. This contributes to a lack of financial autonomy for people with disabilities.

1 in 3 are at risk of poverty or social exclusion

In 2024, 29% of people with disabilities were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared with 18% of people without disabilities. 

1 in 5 leave school early

The rate of early school-leaving is double for people with a disability compared to non-disabled people. Many young people with a disability attend special schools and have difficulties accessing mainstream education and training: only 29% obtain a tertiary degree (post-secondary education) compared with 44% of people without disabilities. 

4 times more likely to have unmet healthcare needs

Everyone has the right to preventive healthcare and medical treatment, yet for people with disabilities healthcare is often too expensive, far away and subject to long waiting times. 

1 in 5 are victims of violence

People with disabilities, in particular women, the elderly and children, are at greater risk of suffering from violence and abuse, both at home and in care institutions: 17% of people with disabilities are victims of violence, compared with 8% of people without disabilities.  

See also

• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (United Nations)
• Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 (European Commission)