The 2022 Census concluded that disability among South Africans declined from seven percent in 2011 to six percent in 2022; thus, 3,6 million South Africans have a disability. According to the report, which is compiled by Statistics South Africa:
A person is regarded as having a disability if they reported any of the following degrees of difficulty in the six functional domains of seeing, hearing, communicating, walking/climbing stairs, remembering or concentrating and self-care:
- A person who reported ‘some difficulty’ in at least two domains of functioning.
- A person who reported ‘a lot of difficulty’ in any of the six domains of functioning.
- A person who reported ‘unable to do’ in any of the six domains of functioning.
The report indicated that disability increased among age groups of 40 to 44 and older. While there isn’t specific statistics around the type of disability, there is information to indicate the assistive device required.
Wheelchairs are used by 450 308 people, prosthesis by 427 840, and over a million people rely on a walking stick, frame or crutches.
