Disability
Disability in the U.S.
44.6 million people, 13.4% of Americans living in the community, have a disability. The most common is difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21.1 million people). Disability rises steeply with age: 33.1% of people 65 and over, compared with 4.9% of children.
At a glance
- People with a disability
- 44.6 million
- Share of people living in the community
- 13.4%
- Age 65 and over with a disability
- 33.1%
- On Medicare because of a disability (July 2026)
- 6.7 million
Types of disability
The Census asks about six kinds of difficulty. Many people have more than one, so the types add up to more than the total.
- 6.7% Walking or climbing stairs 21.1 million people · asked of age 5 and over
- 5.6% Thinking, memory or decisions 17.7 million people · asked of age 5 and over
- 6.0% Living independently 15.5 million people · asked of age 18 and over
- 3.6% Hearing 12.1 million people · asked of all ages
- 2.5% Vision 8.4 million people · asked of all ages
- 2.6% Self-care (bathing, dressing) 8.2 million people · asked of age 5 and over
Map: disability by county
Choose a type and an age group, or Medicare enrollment. Click a state to see its counties.
By age
Type by age
| Type | Children (under 18) | Adults 18–64 | Age 65 and over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any disability | 4.9% | 10.9% | 33.1% |
| Walking | 0.6% | 4.4% | 20.8% |
| Thinking and memory | 4.9% | 5.1% | 8.1% |
| Living independently | — | 3.9% | 13.4% |
| Hearing | 0.5% | 2.0% | 13.4% |
| Self-care | 1.2% | 1.7% | 7.2% |
| Vision | 0.9% | 2.1% | 6.1% |
Thinking, walking and self-care are asked from age 5; living independently from age 18.
By state
Medicare and disability
People under 65 can qualify for Medicare after receiving Social Security disability benefits for 24 months, or with kidney failure or ALS. In July 2026, 6.7 million people were on Medicare because of a disability: 9.5% of all 70.1 million Medicare enrollees.
In the map above, choose “On Medicare because of a disability” to see it by county. Source: CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment. Medicare does not publish the type of disability.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 (tables B18101–B18107), civilian population living in the community (not in nursing homes or other institutions). People report their own difficulties, or a household member reports for them. Totals are the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico, as on the map. Specialists: NPPES NPI Registry, the same counts as our specialty pages.