Equality in the post-2015 development agenda: promoting inclusion for people with disabilities

Globally more than one billion people live with a disability.

Between 110 and 190 million of these people experience very significant difficulties. This equates to about 15 per cent of the global population.

Of these, 39 million are blind and a further 246 million are visually impaired. Women and girls account for approximately two-thirds (64 per cent) of the world’s blind population.

Disability disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. Women, older people and people from the poorest wealth quintile have a higher prevalence of disability and there is higher disability prevalence in lower-income than in higher-income countries. In all countries the prevalence of disability is growing, due to population ageing and the rising burden of non-communicable disease.