Facts and figures about disability
- Disabled people represent 50 million persons in the European Union (10% of the population), the equivalent to the population of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and the Netherlands together.
- One in four Europeans has a family member with a disability. Six Europeans out of ten know someone, in close or more distant circles, who has a disability.
- People with reduced mobility represent more than 40% of the population.
- Disabled people are two to three times more unemployed than non-disabled people.
- Only 16 % of those who face work restrictions are provided with some assistance to work.
- Many disabled persons are 'discouraged workers' and don't even attempt to enter the labour force. They are therefore classified as inactive.
- The more severe the degree of disability, the lower the participation in the labour force. Only 20% of people with severe disabilities, compared to 68% for those without disabilities.
- Non-disabled people are more than twice as likely to have reached third level education than non-disabled people.
- 38% of disabled people aged 16 - 34 across Europe have an earned income, compared to 64% of non-disabled people. Disabled people's income is dramatically lower than the income of non-disabled people.
- One out of two disabled persons has never participated in leisure or sport activities.
- One third of the disabled population has never travelled abroad or even participated in day-excursions due to inaccessible premises and services.
- Disabled people suffer from isolation. Compared to non disabled people, more than twice disabled people meet their friends and relatives less than one or two times per month.
More information about accessibility
www.edf-feph.org
