New Data on Disability in Canada, 2017

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Release date: November 28, 2018
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Infographic: New Data on Disability in Canada, 2017
Description: New Data on Disability in Canada, 2017

New Data on Disability in Canada, 2017

The Canadian Survey on Disability covers Canadians aged 15 years and over whose everyday activities are limited because of a long-term condition or health-related problem.

22% of Canadians had at least one disability. This represents 6.2 million people.

Percentage of Canadians with at least one disability

By sex

  • Women: 24%
  • Men: 20%

By age group

  • Youth aged 15 to 24 years: 13%
  • Working-age-adults aged 25 to 64 years: 20%
  • Seniors aged 65 years and over: 38%

By Disability type

Top four most common

  • Pain-related: 15%
  • Flexibility: 10%
  • Mobility: 10%
  • Mental health-related: 7%

Other disability types

  • Seeing: 5%
  • Hearing: 5%
  • Dexterity: 5%
  • Learning: 4%
  • Memory: 4%
  • Developmental: 1%

1.6 million Canadians with disabilities were unable to afford required aids, devices, or prescription medications due to cost.

Among youth with disabilities, 60% had a mental-health related disability.

Employment rates for working-age adults

  • 59% for persons with disabilities
  • 80% for persons without disabilities

Source

Canadian Survey on Disability, 2017

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2018

All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

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